What Zeopore Technologies does

Zeopore Technologies NV is a Belgian deep-tech company, founded in 2018 as a spin-off from KU Leuven and headquartered in Leuven, that has developed a proprietary post-synthetic zeolite mesoporization platform. The technology introduces a secondary network of larger mesopores into conventional zeolite crystals while preserving their intrinsic microporous structure, crystallinity, and acidity. Variants include simultaneous metal incorporation (e.g., gallium, zinc) for aromatization and a process for deriving high-efficiency mesoporous hydrocracking zeolites from low-cost NaY precursors. The company claims up to a 10-fold cost advantage over competing mesoporization approaches by relying on standard unit operations and non-hazardous inputs.

The company's product portfolio spans mesoporized zeolite catalysts for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing of diesel and lubricants, methanol-to-olefins conversion, and emerging circular economy applications including plastics pyrolysis and biomass conversion. Quantified outcomes from independent and partner validation campaigns include 3–7 wt% higher middle distillate selectivity in hydrocracking, 30 °C cloud point improvement with under 2 wt% diesel yield loss in dewaxing, up to 100% BTX yield increase in plastics-to-aromatics conversion, and ~50% CO2-equivalent emissions reduction in that same process.

Zeopore operates a dual GTM model: technology licensing to global catalyst manufacturers (with Evonik as a flagship OEM partner integrating Zeopore's mesopore technology into its isodewaxing portfolio) and direct product supply of modified zeolites from a semi-industrial facility in Leuven that began fulfilling first customer orders in May 2025 with approximately €25 million of annual production capacity. Revenue is enterprise B2B via negotiated multi-year contracts with refiners, petrochemical producers, biofuel manufacturers, plastics recyclers, and catalyst suppliers. The company targets €25 million in revenue by 2029 within an estimated €1.5 billion global market for advanced zeolite catalysts, with long-term revenue potential stated at over €200 million.

Name

Zeopore Technologies

Legal name

Zeopore Technologies NV

Website

https://zeopore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zeopore Technologies is a Belgian deep-tech company that licenses and supplies proprietary mesoporized zeolite catalysts for refining, petrochemical, and circular-economy applications to global catalyst manufacturers, refiners, biofuel producers, and plastics recyclers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Catalysts

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Zeolites & Molecular Sieves (IMAEAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Petroleum Refining Catalysts (IMAEAIAA), Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts (IMAEAIAB), Catalysts & Adsorbents (IMAEABAB), Zeolites (Natural & Synthetic) (IMAEAFAN)

Keywords

• Zeolite catalysts
• Mesoporized zeolites
• Catalytic dewaxing
• Petrochemical catalysts
• Hydrocracking catalysts

Headquarters

HQ city

Leuven

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Zeopore licenses its proprietary mesoporization technologies to innovative catalyst suppliers globally through license agreements. This is the primary commercial pathway for market deployment.
2. Product Supply (Modified Zeolites): Direct supply of high-performance modified zeolites and catalysts to global customers, including multinational catalyst manufacturers and refiners. Semi-industrial facility in Leuven currently fulfilling first customer orders.
3. Collaborative Co-development Revenue: Joint development agreements with catalyst manufacturers and process developers, including product deliveries and testing programs for specific applications such as hydrocracking, dewaxing, and plastics recycling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zeopore Technologies develops and manufactures mesoporized zeolite catalysts using a proprietary post-synthetic modification process that introduces mesopores into zeolite crystals while preserving their intrinsic crystallinity and acidity. The company produces and supplies high-performance modified zeolite catalysts for fluid catalytic cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing, and emerging applications including plastics recycling and biomass conversion, commercialized through direct product supply and technology licensing.

Product overview

Zeopore Technologies is a Belgian deep-tech company that has developed a proprietary zeolite mesoporization technology platform as its core offering. The platform enhances conventional zeolite catalysts by introducing mesoporosity, which improves molecular diffusion and active site accessibility. The company's product portfolio includes modified zeolite catalysts across multiple application categories: mesoporized dewaxing zeolites for diesel and lubricants, mesoporized hydrocracking zeolites for middle distillate production, mesoporized FCC catalysts for fluid catalytic cracking, and specialized catalysts for emerging circular economy applications including plastics recycling and biomass conversion. Zeopore commercializes its technology through direct product supply and technology licensing agreements, with a notable licensing partnership with Evonik for iso-dewaxing catalysts. The company operates a semi-industrial production facility in Leuven, Belgium with annual capacity valued at approximately €25 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zeolite Mesoporization Technology Platform Zeopore's core proprietary technology platform that introduces mesoporosity into conventional zeolite catalysts. The platform enhances molecular diffusion and active site accessibility, leading to lower process temperatures, reduced energy consumption, extended catalyst lifetimes, and improved selectivity in refining and petrochemical processes.
• Modified Zeolite Catalysts High-performance mesoporized zeolite catalysts produced using Zeopore's proprietary processes. These catalysts are applicable to any commercially relevant zeolite, tunable to desired properties, retain intrinsic zeolitic characteristics, and enhance process economics and scalability for customers worldwide.
• Mesoporized Dewaxing Zeolites Zeolite catalysts optimized for catalytic dewaxing of diesel and lubricants, enabling refiners to achieve up to 30°C cloud point improvement while maintaining diesel yield loss below 2wt%. Ideal for fossil-derived and renewable fuel applications.
• Mesoporized Hydrocracking Zeolites Zeolite catalysts for hydrocracking applications that deliver 3-7 wt% increase in middle distillate selectivities while maintaining or increasing activity levels. Can be derived from low-cost NaY-zeolite precursors, opening global supply chains.
• Mesoporized FCC Catalysts Zeolite catalysts optimized for fluid catalytic cracking applications, enabling refiners to produce more valuable fuel fractions with improved selectivity and reduced undesired byproducts.
• Plastics Recycling Catalyst Solutions Mesoporous zeolite catalysts for advanced chemical recycling of plastic waste, including catalytic pyrolysis and py-oil upgrading. Improves conversion rates and steers product slate toward valuable aromatics and olefins.
• Biomass Conversion Catalysts Zeolite catalysts for converting biomass into renewable fuels and chemicals, including aromatics (BTX) and biofuels. Supports hydrogen de-oxidation processes for oxygen removal from renewable feedstocks.
• High-Performance Iso-Dewaxing Catalysts (Evonik Partnership) Zeopore's mesoporized zeolite technology licensed to Evonik for integration into their high-performance isodewaxing catalysts for fuels and lubricants production. Enables five-fold reduction in product losses and improved cold-flow properties.
• Technology Licensing & Product Supply Services Zeopore offers its technology through license agreements or direct product supply arrangements with catalyst manufacturers and refiners globally. Available for all applications including FCC, hydrocracking, dewaxing, and circular economy processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100% increase in BTX yield in circular aromatics from waste plastics (with BioBTX)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and emerging.

• EvonikcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 16 April 2026Evonik launched a new generation of high-performance isodewaxing catalysts incorporating Zeopore's proprietary mesoporized zeolite technology. Evonik leverages its over 75 years of catalyst design expertise and global commercial capabilities to integrate Zeopore's materials into its catalyst portfolio. The catalysts achieve five-fold reduction in product losses and improved cold-flow properties.
• BioBTX B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026Zeopore and BioBTX jointly demonstrated a breakthrough in converting waste plastics and biomass into circular aromatics. By combining BioBTX's Integrated Cascading Catalytic Pyrolysis (ICCP) technology with Zeopore's tailored mesoporous zeolite catalysts (Ga-containing ZSM-5), the partners achieved up to 100% yield increase in BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) and nearly 50% reduction in CO2-equivalent emissions. The collaboration was tested at mini-plant scale (200 g/h capacity).
• hte GmbHsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partnerhte GmbH provided high-throughput catalytic testing facilities in Heidelberg, Germany, for validating Zeopore's dewaxing performance under industrially-relevant conditions. Testing was conducted in a 16-fold parallel high-throughput testing unit using industrial feeds and process conditions.
• Konzept Engineering Services GmbHsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering company with experience in wet chemical processes, collaborated with Zeopore on the design, assembly, and commissioning of the industrial-scale production unit for mesoporized zeolites in Leuven.
• Leading European methanol-to-olefins manufacturercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeopore is engaging with a leading European manufacturer for mesoporized zeolite product deliveries being tested by the customer, targeting the methanol-to-olefins market.
• CatalistisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalisti is the spearhead innovation cluster for the chemicals and plastics industry in Flanders, Belgium. Zeopore is a member, and the cluster facilitates collaboration between industry, startups, and research institutes to accelerate innovation in the Flemish chemistry ecosystem.
• KU LeuvensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeopore was founded as a spin-off from KU Leuven university, leveraging research expertise from the institution. The company maintains connections with the academic ecosystem for talent and research collaboration.
• Blue Circle OlefinsemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Circle Olefins is designing a production plant in the Port of Rotterdam for sustainable olefins via methanol-to-olefins technology. CTO Reinier Grimbergen indicated that Blue Circle Olefins may become a customer of Zeopore for mesoporized catalysts to improve selectivity and catalyst lifetime.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Axens: French provider of refining, petrochemical, and renewable fuel process technologies and catalysts. Competes with Zeopore-adjacent offerings in hydrocracking and hydroprocessing, and is a typical refiner-counterparty catalyst supplier in the same value chain.
• Johnson Matthey: UK-based specialty chemicals and catalyst company with strong positions in refining catalysts and emerging circular economy technologies. Comparable as a sophisticated R&D-driven catalyst incumbent targeting many of the same refining, petrochemical, and circular-economy use cases as Zeopore.
• Clariant: Specialty chemicals incumbent with a significant catalyst business covering refining, petrochemical, and emissions-control catalysts. Competes with Zeopore's customers in FCC, hydrocracking, and dewaxing zeolite supply, and has historically been a major R&D player in hierarchical zeolites.
• Topsoe: Danish technology and catalyst company with deep expertise in hydroprocessing, hydrocracking, and zeolite-based catalysis. Comparable to Zeopore in serving refining and renewable fuel customers with advanced catalyst solutions, including mesoporous zeolite development.
• W. R. Grace: Leading global supplier of specialty catalysts and materials for petroleum refining, petrochemical, and chemical processing — particularly FCC catalysts. A directly relevant incumbent comparable to Zeopore in zeolite catalyst technologies for refining applications.
• Honeywell UOP: Global leader in refining and petrochemical process technology and catalysts, with a strong portfolio in hydrocracking, FCC, and aromatics. Comparable as a long-established incumbent Zeopore must compete with for refiner mindshare and catalyst qualification.
• Albemarle: Specialty chemicals major with a catalyst solutions business historically focused on hydroprocessing catalysts. Comparable in serving refining and petrochemical customers with advanced zeolite and metal-based catalytic solutions.
• BASF: Largest chemical company globally, with a broad catalyst portfolio serving refining, petrochemicals, and emissions control. Has its own zeolite catalyst R&D program and is the type of entrenched incumbent Zeopore must displace at catalyst manufacturer and refiner customers.

Direct peers

• Evonik: Global specialty chemicals major with a leading catalyst portfolio, including iso-dewaxing catalysts that now incorporate Zeopore's mesoporized zeolite technology under a licensing partnership. Directly comparable as a producer of zeolite-based refining and petrochemical catalysts serving the same end customers.
• Zeolyst International: Specialized manufacturer of zeolite powders and catalysts serving refining, emissions control, and chemical processing applications. The most direct product-level competitor to Zeopore in zeolite catalyst supply, with comparable target customers in catalyst manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeopore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zeopore Technologies