SRI’s Self-Cooling Paint earns a spot in WEF’s global tech report
Passive radiative cooling is among the world’s most consequential emerging technologies of 2026.
SRI’s Self-Cooling Paint is highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026 section on passive radiative cooling materials and among the year’s most consequential emerging technologies. SRI’s paint is cited for its ability to reduce surface temperatures by up to 15 degrees below ambient conditions on grid and building components.
Research Scientist Anish Thukral is quoted in the report on the engineering case for passive overactive cooling solutions, saying, “A rule-of-thumb for the lifetime dependence of electronics on temperature is that a 10°C increase halves the lifetime. Keeping the temperature as low as possible was therefore an important goal. Whereas active cooling could have been implemented, this would have required additional electronics, as well as maintenance and repair, increasing costs. The conclusion was to look for a simple passive cooling solution.”
SRI CEO David Parekh served on the report’s Advisory Council, joining global leaders from institutions including Johns Hopkins, KAIST, and the Dubai Future Foundation in shaping the year’s selection.
Learn more about SRI’s Self-Cooling Paint.