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  • 2022.1.14
  • Investment

New Investment in OPTMASS, Inc.

Innovation Kyoto 2021 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO-ICAP No.2 Fund"), with Kyoto University Innovation Capital Corporation ("Kyoto iCAP"; Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Ko Kusumi) as general partner, has invested in OPTMASS Co. (Head office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Toru Nakagawa), a venture company that utilizes the results of research at Kyoto University.

Outline of this investment
OPTMASS is a Kyoto University venture established in October 2021 based on the research results on infrared light energy conversion by Associate Professor Masanori Sakamoto of the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, in the field of fine inorganic synthetic chemistry.

Most of the energy utilized on the earth depends on the sun for its source. However, infrared light, which accounts for about half of all sunlight, has not been effectively utilized as an energy source. The development of technology to directly convert infrared light, which is difficult to collect, into electric power has been considered an extremely difficult academic challenge.

In 2019, Associate Professor Sakamoto invented a mechanism to convert infrared light into electricity with unprecedented efficiency using a material that efficiently collects infrared light. The results of this research can be applied to the development of transparent solar cells, such as window glass, and heat-shielding materials that can be applied to various materials, including glass. Transparent solar cells, which are transparent and have excellent design characteristics, can be installed on window glass of houses and high-rise buildings, for example, and are expected to contribute greatly to the realization of zero-emission buildings and zero-emission houses.

Kyoto iCAP highly evaluated the future potential of OPTMASS's development and manufacturing technology for advanced materials and devices based on the "energy conversion of infrared light" and made a new investment of approximately 35 million yen through a third-party allocation of new shares.

Outline of OPTMASS Co.

Establishment October 2021
Business Development, manufacturing and sales of materials and devices for transparent solar cells, heat shielding and other applications
Head Office Location Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
President & CEO Toru Nakagawa

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