Innovation Kyoto 2021 Investment Limited Partnership" ("KYOTO-iCAP Fund II"), managed by Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd. ("Kyoto iCAP") (Headquarters: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Ko Kusumi) as its general partner, has made an investment in Looparts Inc. (Headquarters: Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi; Representative Director: Kohei Takimoto), a startup leveraging research outcomes from Tohoku University.

Overview of the investment
Looparts is a startup that possesses proprietary technology for directly refining high-purity aluminum from aluminum scrap. Conventionally, aluminum recycling has faced technical challenges in sufficiently separating silicon—whose specific gravity is close to that of aluminum—resulting in the widespread use of downcycled recycling with reduced quality or closed-loop recycling limited to specific applications.

Looparts’ technology enables the separation of silicon from scrap aluminum and the reproduction of high-purity aluminum, representing a breakthrough that overcomes the technical constraints of conventional recycling processes. In addition, compared with traditional electrolytic refining processes, this technology offers significant advantages by achieving substantial reductions in CO₂ emissions as well as dramatic decreases in required electricity consumption.

Aluminum is widely used across industries such as automotive, aerospace, construction, and electronics; however, the environmental burden associated with its production has long been a major challenge. Looparts’ technology is expected to fundamentally address these issues and make a significant contribution to the realization of a decarbonized society and the establishment of a circular metal industry.

This investment was made with the aim of strengthening Looparts’ research and development capabilities, supporting capital investment for mass production, and expanding its business foundation. Through this investment, Kyoto iCAP expects Looparts’ technology to advance toward social implementation and to accelerate sustainable manufacturing both in Japan and globally.

Overview of Looparts Inc.
Establishment : October 2025
Business Description: Development and commercialization of proprietary upcycling recycling technology for directly refining high-purity aluminum from aluminum scrap
Head Office: Tohoku University Material Innovation Center, Aobayama Garage 468-1 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Representative Director: Kohei Takimoto
HP : https://www.looparts.co.jp/

Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd.(Kyoto-iCAP):
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyoto University, KYOTO-iCAP provides investment and other business support to companies that utilize research results generated by Kyoto University and other national universities. KYOTO-iCAP currently operates the Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO-iCAP FundⅠ") (established in January 2016) with a total value of 16 billion yen and the KYOTO-iCAP FundⅡ (established in January 2021) with a total value of 18.1 billion yen. The KYOTO-iCAP FundⅠ has a maturity of up to 20 years, and the KYOTO-iCAP FundⅡ has a maturity of up to 17 years, making it possible to provide long-term support for the practical application of research results from Kyoto University, which has strengths in basic research. In addition, KYOTO-iCAP FundⅡ will invest a portion of the funds in ventures originating from national universities other than Kyoto University.

Contact information for inquiries
Kyoto University Innovation Capital, Co. Ltd.
36-1 Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8317, Japan
Osami Kono, Senior Officer, Business Development Department
TEL: 075-753-7588 FAX: 075-753-7592
E-mail: info@kyoto-unicap.co.jp