138 participants from 23 countries gathered in Prague to share advances in cryogenics, from liquid hydrogen to cryopreservation.
The 18th International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) Conference on Cryogenics was held from April 7–11, 2025, in Prague, Czech Republic. Co-chaired by Vaclav Chrz (Czech Republic) and Ralf Herzog (Germany), the biennial event drew 138 participants from 23 countries and featured 80 technical contributions. The conference was organized with support from an 18-member committee of cryogenic experts from the Czech Republic and Germany.
Program Overview
Organized by IIR Commissions A1 (Cryophysics and Cryoengineering), A2 (Liquefaction and Separation of Gases), and C1 (Cryobiology and Cryomedicine), each commission led a dedicated day of discussions. Topics ranged from cryogenics in high-energy physics to emerging life sciences applications.
On April 8, Commission A1 explored cryogenics for particle physics, superconductivity, quantum technologies, and cryocooler development. Key themes included low-temperature properties and refrigeration for large-scale physics experiments like the LHC at CERN.
On April 9, Commission A2 sessions focused on hydrogen liquefaction, storage tank technology, LNG fuelling, and insulation systems. Rare gas recovery and safety in liquid hydrogen applications were also discussed, reflecting growing interest in hydrogen as a clean energy vector.
April 10, led by Commission C1, featured cryobiology and cryopreservation, with contributions on vitrification techniques for tissues and organs, plant cryobiology, and large-scale biobanking. Cryogenic electron microscopy and biological structure freezing technologies were also presented.
The event included a poster session, conference dinner, and 10 online sessions. The exhibition area encouraged technical exchange among academia and industry.
A Joint Commission Meeting on April 10 reviewed 2024–2027 work plans, proposed reviving the "Cold Applications in Life Sciences" workshop series, and discussed future improvements. Commissioners noted increased interest in liquid hydrogen and quantum technologies, praising the event’s mix of scientific and practical focus.
“Many thanks go to the conference organising committee, which for many years has consisted of cryogenic specialists from the Czech Republic and Germany, as well as to the ICCEX organising agency for their hospitality and the very good organization. The 18th Cryogenics was another successful example of international partnership under the umbrella of the IIR,” said Vaclav Chrz, Ralf Herzog, and Steffen Grohmann.
The 19th IIR Cryogenics Conference will take place in April 2027 in Dresden, Germany.