NovoMOF Raises $5.4M To Scale Low-Cost Carbon Capture

Swiss sustainable materials firm novoMOF has closed a CHF 4.4 million (USD $5.4 million) funding round, according to an announcement. The fresh capital will be used to drive the company's vision of developing its world-beating carbon capture materials on a large scale, which can lower CO₂ emissions from industry in an inexpensive and space-saving way.

Established in 2017, novoMOF was a spin-off from the Swiss Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). novoMOF is at the forefront in the creation of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a family of super porous materials characterized by their enormous surface area within a small volume. The materials are becoming increasingly prominent in climate tech due to their capacity to selectively adsorb and store gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. The scientific foundation of novoMOF's breakthroughs dates back to Professor Omar M. Yaghi at UC Berkeley, a world-leading chemist who initially discovered MOFs and now acts as the company's scientific partner.

novoMOFs are engineered by the company to function as molecular cages, trapping target gases at a high selectivity level. Through the use of accurate molecular engineering, novoMOF seeks to make point-source capture of CO₂ possible in industries where emissions are historically difficult to reduce, such as energy generation and heavy industries. The firm's ambitions go beyond stationary use. Due to the small and space-efficient nature of MOF designs, the materials are also ideal for mobile use across marine shipping and heavy-duty transport — industries where weight and space restrictions are paramount.

One of the key selling points of novoMOF's technology is that it is cost-effective. The company asserts that its materials can sequester CO₂ at prices well below €100 per ton — a tipping point figure quoted by experts as the point at which carbon capture technologies become economically viable. novoMOF is targeting six million tons of CO₂ captured annually by 2030 using its next-generation materials.

The round was headed by GTT Strategic Ventures, the investment subsidiary of the GTT Group, which is dedicated to innovations driving the decarbonization of global industries. Shift4Good, a venture capital company focused on sustainable mobility, and Regenerative Ltd were other round participants, along with other undisclosed investors. This solid support from both industrial and climate-oriented investors is indicative of increased faith in MOF-based technology as a potential climate change game-changer.

Referring to the milestone in funding, novoMOF's CEO and Founder Daniel Steitz was positive about the future. "This investment represents a key milestone on our mission to make CO₂ capture using MOFs both scalable and cost-effective," he mentioned. With the backing of GTT Strategic Ventures, Shift4Good, Regenerative, and our current investors, we are speeding up the rollout of our next-generation MOF materials where they are most urgently needed—at the source of industrial, energy and transport emissions. Our mission is clear: to make a real difference in global emissions through innovative materials and robust partnerships.

For the investor, the promise of real-world decarbonization through scalable innovation is the core. Hélène Loncin, GTT Head of Venture Capital, said, "GTT Strategic Ventures is proud to support the creation of novoMOF, whose high-performance materials will assist in decarbonizing maritime transport. Together with our co-investors, we are delighted to invest in a skilled and dedicated team whose project has the potential to make a tangible impact in CO₂ reduction."

As the pace toward net zero heightens, technology such as the carbon capture mechanisms of novoMOF will grow in importance. Backed with solid finances, scientific credibility and a well-stated pathway toward scaling up, novoMOF seems ready to play an instrumental part in fighting climate change, particularly in segments of the economy that are hard to decarbonize otherwise.