Ube invests in UK carbon capture tech firm
Japan’s Ube Corporation has invested in UK-based Immaterial Ltd in its top up to the A2 round capital raise. Immaterial is an early stage company aiming to commercialise CO2 capture technologies utilising densified monolithic Metal-Organic Frameworks (m-MOFs).
A spin-out from the University of Cambridge, Immaterial develops, manufactures, and provides engineering solutions for gas separation and storage technologies based on m-MOFs. The company possesses advanced patented technology that enables the production of MOF in monolithic form–an achievement unique worldwide coupled with engineering innovation to improve the productivity of the engineering solutions for carbon capture.
This technology contributes to affordable cost reduction in industrial decarbonisation by providing the lowest capex and opex for carbon capture, enabling hard to abate sectors with stretched balance sheets to capture carbon.
Ube says it promotes R&D under the policy of “establishing technologies that serve as sources of competitive advantage through open innovation” and is committed to creating new specialty businesses.
The high-efficiency, high-quality CO2 separation and capture technology that Immaterial seeks to implement is expected to meet the growing global demand for decarbonisation. Through supporting Immaterial’s business and technology development, UBE aims to foster growth and establish and expand businesses for both companies.
The Ube Group is actively addressing global environmental issues by reducing GHG emissions and promoting the development and commercialisation of environmentally friendly products and technologies, it adds.
1. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) are porous materials formed by the regular bonding of metal ions and organic ligands. Known for excellent properties such as gas adsorption/separation and catalyst support, MOFs have attracted attention in the environmental and energy fields and were recognised with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2025. MOF stands for Metal-Organic Frameworks.
Densified monolithic Metal-Organic Frameworks (m-MOFs): While conventional powder MOFs require pelletisation, m-MOFs are synthesised as a monolithic structure. The densely packed m-MOFs offer dramatically improved volumetric performance.
