[Düsseldorf and New York] Asahi Kasei, a known well Japanese multinational corporation, has recently announced the establishment of a new initiative aimed at promoting carbon neutrality. The initiative, called "Care for Earth," is focused on investing in early-stage startups that are dedicated to addressing environmental challenges, such as hydrogen, energy storage, carbon management, and bio-based chemicals. Over the next five years, the company plans to invest $100 million worldwide in these startups.
Asahi Kasei has been actively involved in corporate venture capital (CVC) activities since 2008, in an effort to develop new businesses and create collaborations with startups. With over 50 investments made in startups across the US, Europe, China, and Japan, Asahi Kasei has successfully acquired Crysal IS, a US-based provider of UVC LEDs for air, water, and surface disinfection, and Swedish Senseair, a manufacturer of CO2 and alcohol sensing solutions. These investments have enabled the company to solve various societal issues, using the perspectives of "Care for People" and "Care for Earth."
Until now, Asahi Kasei has mainly focused its CVC investments on "Care for People" areas such as healthcare, IoT, and homes, which have relatively shorter timeframes for commercialization. However, "Care for Earth" initiatives require longer-term commercial prospects, and investment decisions can be more challenging due to the lack of established value chains in fields like hydrogen and energy storage. Nonetheless, the company is enthusiastic about accelerating investments in early-stage startups that are working hard to make a difference in the world, with the goal of realizing a carbon-neutral and sustainable society.
Dr. Takashi Morishita, General Manager of Corporate Venture Capital at Asahi Kasei, stated, "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. 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."
Asahi Kasei aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by reducing its own GHG emissions and contributing to reducing GHG emissions throughout society. Through the newly established "Care for Earth" investment framework, the company aims to create new businesses that align with the investment horizon and criteria that 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 plans to leverage its accumulated technologies and expertise to contribute to a sustainable society while achieving sustainable growth of corporate value by accelerating investment in Green Transformation (GX). The company's commitment to addressing environmental challenges through its investment in early-stage startups is a step towards realizing a carbon-neutral and sustainable world.
