We study the internal dynamics, the quantum thermalization and the entanglement of elementary quantum systems (one or two atoms) placed close to a body held at a temperature different from that of the surrounding radiation. Concerning the single atom dynamics [1,2], we derive general expressions for lifetime and density matrix valid for bodies of arbitrary geometry and dielectric permittivity. Out of equilibrium, the thermalization process and steady states become both qualitatively and quantitatively significantly different from the case of radiation at thermal equilibrium. For the case of a three-level atom close to a slab of finite thickness, we predict the occurrence of population inversion and an efficient cooling mechanism for the quantum system, whose effective internal temperature can be driven to values much lower than both involved temperatures. Our results show that non-equilibrium configurations provide new promising ways to control the state of an atomic system. We also consider two two-level atomic quantum systems (qubits) [3]. While at thermal equilibrium the two-qubit dynamics is characterized by not entangled steady thermal states, we show that absence of thermal equilibrium may bring to the generation of entangled steady states. Remarkably, this entanglement emerges from the two-qubit dissipative dynamic itself, without any further external action on the two qubits, suggesting a new protocol to produce and protect entanglement which is intrinsically robust to environmental effects. ====================== [1] Bruno Bellomo, Riccardo Messina, and Mauro Antezza, Europhys. Lett. 100, 20006 (2012). [2] Bruno Bellomo, Riccardo Messina, Didier Felbacq, and Mauro Antezza, Phys. Rev. A 87, 012101 (2013). [3] Bruno Bellomo, and Mauro Antezza, arXiv:1304.2864 (2013).