As part of the MOU, technicians trained through the Clean Cooling Academy in Rwanda and India will be supported to become IOR members, gaining access to the Institute’s extensive technical resources and training programmes. This includes continuing professional development in refrigerant handling, safety, brazing, and cold chain operations.

The IOR will also promote internship exchanges between UK businesses and the Academy, potentially bringing technicians from Rwanda to UK firms and facilitating expert visits to support local training and business development.

Professor Toby Peters, Director of ACES, said: “We’re delighted to formalise this partnership and look forward to working closely with your team to advance our shared goals in sustainable cooling and cold-chain capacity development.”

IOR CEO Miriam Rodway said: “This new partnership is particularly important as it will help support improved cold chains that are essential for food security, pharmaceuticals, improving health, economic outlooks and environmental impact. These are global issues that need us all to work together to address.”