Climate technology startup Qurie has secured €2.2 million in seed financing from High-Tech Gründerfonds, Technology Transfer Fund TT49, and Aepikur GmbH to accelerate development of its electrocaloric cooling systems.
Established as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, the company is building refrigeration technology that operates without compressors, refrigerants, or pressurised systems, targeting a more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional cooling infrastructure.
What The Company Does
Qurie develops solid-state cooling systems based on electrocaloric materials, which change temperature when exposed to or released from an electric field. The company integrates these materials into layered architectures powered by its patented active electrocaloric heat pipe (AEH) technology.
Unlike conventional refrigeration systems that rely on compressors and chemical refrigerants, Qurie’s approach transfers heat through electrically controlled material reactions. The company says this allows for quieter operation, reduced mechanical complexity, and improved energy efficiency.
According to Qurie, the technology has the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional compressor-based cooling systems. Its modular system architecture is designed for a broad range of applications, including industrial cooling, electronics, medical devices, automotive systems, and building technologies.
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Market Context / Industry Background
The cooling and HVAC sector is undergoing increasing regulatory and technological pressure as governments tighten restrictions on high-emission refrigerants and industries seek lower-energy alternatives. Conventional refrigeration systems remain heavily dependent on compressor-based technologies that can be energy-intensive and require chemical cooling agents with environmental impact concerns.
As sustainability regulations strengthen globally, solid-state cooling technologies are attracting greater interest as a possible long-term replacement for traditional refrigeration infrastructure. The sector is still in an early commercial stage, but advances in material science and thermal management are improving the viability of electrocaloric and other non-compressor cooling systems.
Industrial and electronics cooling are emerging as early commercial entry points due to growing demand for compact, efficient, and low-maintenance thermal management solutions. Several startups and research institutions are also partnering with manufacturers to accelerate commercialization, reduce production costs, and demonstrate scalable applications for data centers, electric vehicles, medical devices, and consumer electronics.
Founder / Investor Commentary
CEO and co-founder Dr Christian Vogel said the broader HVAC market is reaching a turning point where alternative cooling technologies are becoming commercially relevant rather than purely experimental.
“The HVAC industry is facing a fundamental transformation – regulatory, technological and economic. We have reached a point where we can demonstrate that our technology not only works, but also makes economic sense,” he said.
CTO and co-founder Dr Bartholomé added that the company’s heat pipe design significantly improves thermal transfer efficiency and operating performance.
“With our heat pipe approach, we transfer heat within the system very efficiently and can achieve significantly higher pumping frequencies than previously possible with liquid-based heat transport,” he explained.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The newly raised capital will support further product development, scaling of engineering capabilities, and commercialisation efforts. Qurie currently employs a team of more than ten specialists in Freiburg and is initially focusing on industrial enclosure cooling as its first commercial application area.
From there, the company plans to expand into sectors including commercial refrigeration, medical technology, electronics cooling, and automotive thermal management. Its development roadmap is also supported by German federal research funding running through 2026.
About Qurie
Qurie is a German climate technology company developing electrocaloric solid-state cooling systems for industrial and commercial applications. Founded in 2026 as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM and headquartered in Freiburg, the company focuses on compressor-free and refrigerant-free cooling technologies designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact across multiple industries.
