The TARAS Award, which recognizes successful collaboration between industry and the research and development community in the fields of innovation, development, and technology, was presented at the IRT 2026 Industrial Forum to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana and Danfoss for their joint development project, CoolTrain™. The ceremony took place in Portorož on 8 and 9 June.
The award-winning project is the result of a collaboration between Danfoss and the Laboratory for Fluid Power and Controls (LFT) at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana. The project was led by Associate prof. dr. Franc Majdič. The two partners have joined forces to develop solutions that guarantee the CoolTrain™ system’s exceptionally high level of cleanliness. The system is designed for liquid cooling in next-generation data centres.
Photo: Alen Milavec, IRT Forum
The data centres that power modern artificial intelligence applications require increasingly efficient cooling systems. Even the smallest particles in the cooling system can impact the reliability, energy efficiency and lifespan of the equipment. When developing the new product, Danfoss therefore needed an in-depth understanding of cleaning processes, purity measurement and production process validation.
As the cleanliness requirements presented a new challenge for the company, they approached the Laboratory for Fluid Power and Controls at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for assistance. As part of the project, researchers and development engineers worked together to design a custom-built purification system incorporating partially integrated test equipment, measurement procedures and a methodology to determine the optimal purification process and verify the level of product purity achieved.
“The TARAS Award confirms that long-term, trustworthy collaboration between universities and the business sector can lead to solutions with direct industrial impact. We are pleased that our expertise and research infrastructure at the Laboratory for Fluid Power and Controls have contributed to the development of technology that supports the operation of state-of-the-art data centres,” said Associate prof. dr. Franc Majdič, Head of the Laboratory for Fluid Power and Controls at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UL, upon receiving the award.
Upon receiving the award, Samo Krančan, Head of Research and Development at Danfoss, emphasised the importance of collaborating with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana. He highlighted how access to top-tier experts, research expertise and laboratory infrastructure enabled the company to address development challenges effectively and accelerate the path from research to industrial implementation.
A key outcome of this collaboration was the development of an innovative research device for cleaning and analysing CoolTrain™ pipe assemblies. This device later served as the basis for an automated industrial production line. The solution currently provides a high level of quality, repeatability and traceability in the production process.
This project is a prime example of the successful transfer of knowledge between academia and industry. This collaboration has significantly contributed to accelerating product development and establishing production, and CoolTrain™ products are now deployed in the data centres of leading global artificial intelligence companies.
Photo: Alen Milavec, IRT Forum