1995: IRD A/S was founded in 1995 through a buy-out of Innovision R&D A/S from the Innovision Group. The buy-out was headed by Dr. J.S. Lundsgaard, a co-founder of Innovision A/S and a range of other high-tech companies. Today Dr. J.S. Lundsgaard acts as a director and shareholder of IRD A/S.
1995 - 2000: IRD has a strong focus on research and development of fuel cell technology. At its research facilities in Svendborg, Denmark, IRD establishes strong groups specializing in electro chemistry and material science, polymer and ceramic process technology, electronic and mechanical engineering and software. IRD develops and maintains a strong patent and documentation department to establish and protect intellectual property and support customers and products.
2000 - 2005: IRD participates in or coordinates many publicly and privately funded national and international research projects with partners such as Airbus, APC, Baxi, Danfoss, Dantherm, DLR, DTU, ECN, FIAT, Grundfos, Hydro, Sabik, Volvo, VTT. IRD's activities mainly focus on two technologies: Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Technology (PEMFC) and Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology (DMFC), as well as research and development in other future technologies.
2005: IRD widens its commercial scope and focuses on bringing fuel cell technology to the energy market.
2007: IRD expands its shareholder group. Three Danish utility companies (TRE-FOR, Energi Fyn and Sydfyns Elforsyning) invest in total DKK 75 million (USD 13.5 million) in further developing IRD in terms of product development and manufacture. The three companies now jointly own a 60% stake in IRD, which also counts USA's APC/Schneider Electric amongst its shareholders.
2008: IRD invests heavily in manufacturing facilities for fuel cell production, installing a 700 ton hydraulic press for high volume flow plate manufacturing. Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark visits Lolland in September 2008 to view the first of IRD's combined heat and power plants being installed in Vestenskov, where a ground-breaking hydrogen society is being developed.
2009: IRD A/S acquires a MEA manufacturing line from Cabot Corporation in USA. The MEA manufacturing line is situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and will remain in this location, being handled by the newly founded IRD affiliate, IRD Fuel Cells, LLC. IRD's combined heat and power plants is installed in five households in Vestenskov, and the next phase of the hydrogen society project includes 35 additional installations, continuing into 2010.