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Asahi Kasei Establishes Framework for Investment in Startups Focused on Carbon Neutrality
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Asahi Kasei has established a new investment framework named “Care for Earth,” committing $100 million over five years to support early-stage startups focused on environmental solutions. This initiative aims to address carbon neutrality challenges, particularly in hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon management technologies.
The investment is part of Asahi Kasei's long-term strategy to enhance its corporate venture capital (CVC) activity, which has been ongoing since 2008 and has seen over 50 startup investments across various global markets. The framework signifies a shift towards addressing longer-term commercial prospects in sustainability, complementing existing healthcare-focused investments.
Asahi Kasei aims to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a sustainable future by 2050, ultimately transforming its material sector portfolio.
Positive
Investment of $100 million over five years to support startups focused on environmental sustainability.
Continued corporate venture capital (CVC) activity since 2008, having invested in over 50 startups globally.
Aimed contribution to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 through strategic investments.
Transformation of material sector portfolio to include sustainable business ecosystems.
Negative
Investment in environmental fields may have longer commercial prospects, delaying return on investment.
Challenges in establishing value chains in hydrogen and energy storage sectors could complicate investments.
Allocation of $100 million over 5 years for investment in early-stage startup companies focused on environmental fields such as hydrogen and energy storage
NEW YORK & DÜSSELDORF, Germany & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Asahi Kasei established a “Care for Earth” investment framework as a new initiative for carbon neutrality by investing $100 million worldwide in early-stage startups that aim to solve issues in environmental fields such as hydrogen, energy storage, carbon management, and bio-based chemicals over the 5-year period up to fiscal 2027.
Since 2008, Asahi Kasei has advanced corporate venture capital (CVC) activity in order to create new businesses by investing in startups and performing joint developments with them. Based in Silicon Valley since 2011, this activity has facilitated investments in over 50 startups in the US, Europe, China, and Japan, resulting in numerous collaborations and two acquisitions* which have sparked innovation.
Asahi Kasei is helping to solve issues in society with all of its businesses providing value from the perspectives of “Care for People” to realize active life in the new normal and “Care for Earth” to realize a carbon neutral and sustainable world.
Until now, Asahi Kasei has focused its CVC investments in the area of “Care for People” such as healthcare, IoT, and homes, which have relatively short timeframes to commercialization. The area of “Care for Earth,” in contrast, tends to have longer-term commercial prospects, while fields such as hydrogen and energy storage lack established value chains, making it difficult to invest under the conventional framework.
“Our CVC team is excited for the opportunity to accelerate investments in early-stage startups hard at work to make a difference for our planet,” said Dr. Takashi Morishita, General Manager of Corporate Venture Capital at Asahi Kasei. “We are seeing a lot of passionate people leading these decarbonization initiatives and it feels good to help them on their way. The ideas and technology being innovated now will be an invaluable asset in actualizing a carbon neutral society.”
To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, Asahi Kasei aims to reduce its own GHG emissions and to contribute to reducing GHG emissions throughout society, while creating new businesses through the newly established “Care for Earth” investment framework whose investment horizons and investment decision criteria are different than before. The new investment framework is also expected to help Asahi Kasei advance the transformation of its Material sector portfolio through participation in business ecosystems for carbon neutrality.
The Asahi Kasei Group aims to further contribute to sustainable society while achieving sustainable growth of corporate value by leveraging its accumulated technologies and expertise while accelerating investment for Green Transformation (GX).
About Asahi Kasei
The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 46,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility & Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products, from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.
The Asahi Kasei Group aims to contribute to a carbon-neutral and sustainable world from the perspective of “Care for Earth” by focusing on initiatives such as the use of biomass raw materials, recycled raw materials, and renewable energy. The company strives to meet the expectations of its customers and society by further advancing the provision of products and services with such sustainable characteristics while deepening collaboration with other companies to reach a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.
Company Contact North America:
Asahi Kasei America, Inc. Jon Todd 39475 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Suite 201, Novi, MI 48377
E-mail: info@ak-america.com
Company Contact Europe:
Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH Sebastian Schmidt Fringsstrasse 17, 40221 Düsseldorf
Tel: +49 (0) 211-3399-2058
E-mail: sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu
Source: Asahi Kasei
FAQ
What is Asahi Kasei's new investment initiative focused on?
Asahi Kasei's new initiative, 'Care for Earth,' focuses on investing $100 million in early-stage startups aimed at solving environmental challenges like hydrogen and energy storage.
How much is Asahi Kasei investing in environmental startups?
Asahi Kasei is investing $100 million over five years in early-stage startups focused on environmental solutions.
When does Asahi Kasei plan to achieve carbon neutrality?
Asahi Kasei aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
What industries will the Care for Earth initiative target?
The initiative will target startups in hydrogen, energy storage, carbon management, and bio-based chemicals.
What is the expected impact of Asahi Kasei's investment framework?
The investment framework is expected to enhance sustainable growth and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors.
