“How can industry establish and maintain a strong culture of research and development and higher education training in HVAC&R?” There is a significant need for leadership, a strategic agenda and good communications between industry and researchers. These are the core findings of a “HVAC&R R&D” summit hosted jointly by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS (ISF) to discuss the level and direction of HVAC&R research and development work being undertaken in Australia.