NanosTech

What NanosTech does

NanosTech Technology & Innovations Ltd. is a Calgary-based private nanotechnology company developing proprietary nanocatalyst platforms for the energy transition. The company's technology is built on over a decade of catalysis research originating at the University of Calgary and is organized around three core pillars: ISUT (In-Situ Upgrading Technology), which injects nanocatalysts directly into oil reservoirs to upgrade heavy oil and bitumen in place; AQP (Aquaprocessing), a modular water-tolerant refining platform for converting heavy fossil and renewable oils into higher-value products without external hydrogen; and a Carbon Management suite anchored by the Olympia cubic molybdenum carbide catalyst for CO2-to-syngas conversion via Reverse Water Gas Shift. Supporting technologies include Nova (universal feedstock platform), ODESSA (desulfurization), LESR/DRM/RWGS hydrogen and syngas processes, and CatSkid (on-site catalyst preparation module), with CatHub planned as a catalyst manufacturing facility in Alberta.

The company generates revenue through technology licensing, process licensing, and direct catalyst sales to oil producers, midstream operators, refiners, and energy-transition companies. Pricing is quote-based under multi-year enterprise contracts, with sales cycles driven by direct field engagement and pilot demonstrations in the Alberta oilsands region and, more recently, in European biofuels markets via the BTG Bioliquids partnership. As of the input data, commercial deployments are at pilot stage with one named "Prominent Oilsands Producer" customer and no publicly disclosed revenue; funding to date is dominated by non-dilutive government grants (CAD 5.5M from ERA and Alberta Innovates in December 2023) and the 2021 acquisition by Vorsana Environmental, which functions as NanosTech's parent and commercialization arm.

Name

NanosTech

Legal name

NanosTech Technology & Innovations Ltd.

Website

https://nanos.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NanosTech is a Calgary-based private nanotechnology company that develops proprietary nanocatalysts and processes for heavy oil upgrading, modular refining, and CO2-to-syngas conversion, serving oil producers, refiners, and energy-transition companies primarily through technology licensing, process licensing, and catalyst sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Catalysts for Energy Transition

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Catalysts & Adsorbents (IMAEABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Thermochemical CO₂ Conversion Systems (RWGS, Fischer‑Tropsch integration, catalytic hydrogenation) (EUABAIAL), Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA), Biofuel Co-products & Byproduct Processing (DDGS, Glycerin, CO2, Lignin) (EUAAAHAJ), Reforming, Isomerization & Alkylation (Octane & Gasoline Upgrading) (EUALAGAF)

Keywords

• Nanocatalyst technology
• Heavy oil upgrading
• Carbon management solutions
• In-situ oil recovery
• Renewable fuel processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary nanocatalyst technologies to oil producers and energy companies. Revenue generated through licensing fees with potential for royalties based on usage volume.
2. Catalyst Sales: Direct sale of proprietary catalysts including Olympia™ catalyst and cubic molybdenum carbide catalyst to customers in the energy sector.
3. Process Licensing: Licensing of proprietary processes including ISUT and AQP to enable oil producers to implement NanosTech's upgrading technologies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NanosTech develops and commercializes proprietary nanocatalyst technologies for the energy transition. The company's portfolio centers on three solution pillars: ISUT (In-Situ Upgrading Technology) for in-reservoir heavy oil upgrading, AQP (Aquaprocessing) for modular refining of fossil and renewable oils, and Carbon Management featuring the Olympia catalyst for CO2-to-syngas conversion. NanosTech monetizes these offerings through direct catalyst sales, technology licensing, and process licensing to oil producers, refiners, and energy transition companies.

Product overview

NanosTech offers a catalytic technology platform centered on proprietary nanocatalysts that deliver noble-metal performance at base-metal cost. The portfolio consists of three main technology pillars—ISUT (In-Situ Upgrading Technology) for in-reservoir oil upgrading and enhanced recovery, AQP/AQP Plus (Aquaprocessing) for modular refining of fossil and renewable oils in water-rich environments, and Carbon Management featuring the Olympia catalyst for CO2-to-syngas conversion. Supporting these core products are enabling technologies including Nova (broad catalyst platform), ODESSA (desulfurization), LESR/DRM/RWGS (hydrogen and syngas production processes), and CatSkid (on-site catalyst preparation module). The platform enables applications across clean fossil fuels, renewable biofuels, hydrogen production, and carbon utilization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISUT: In-Situ Upgrading Technology - A turn-key, on-site oil extraction and upgrading process that improves operating margins and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by introducing catalytic upgrading directly within the reservoir.
• AQP
• AQP Plus
• Olympia
• NOVA
• ODESSA
• CatSkid
• LESR
• LESDR

Products and services

• ISUT (In-Situ Upgrading Technology) A turn-key, on-site oil extraction and upgrading process that injects proprietary nanocatalysts directly into reservoirs to improve oil quality, reduce viscosity, and decrease GHG emissions by up to 35% while enhancing recovery rates up to 90%. Targeted at oil producers and operators with heavy oil and oilsands assets.
• AQP (Aquaprocessing) A modular refining suite designed to operate in water-rich environments, converting fossil and renewable oils into high-value, low-carbon fuels without external hydrogen. Processes feedstocks with up to 50% water content and reduces viscosity by up to 99%. Targeted at refiners and biofuel producers.
• Olympia Catalyst A cubic molybdenum carbide catalyst that delivers noble-metal performance without noble-metal costs, enabling high-selectivity CO2-to-syngas conversion via Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction for sustainable fuels and circular carbon solutions. Targeted at energy transition and decarbonization-focused companies.
• Carbon Management Suite A suite of catalytic solutions including the Olympia catalyst for CO2 utilization, enabling conversion of captured CO2 into syngas for sustainable fuels, chemicals, and circular carbon solutions. Targeted at energy transition companies and decarbonization-focused operators.
• AQP Plus (AQP+) An advanced variant of AQP designed to process the most challenging feedstocks including HTL bio-oils into cleaner, higher-value products, featuring self-hydrogenating reactions enabled by water in the oil. Targeted at advanced biofuel and challenging feedstock processors.
• Nova A broadly applicable catalyst platform technology that can convert any oil of any origin—bitumen, heavy crudes, tire pyrolysis oil, or biomass—into high-value commercial products with minimal capital investment. Targeted at diversified feedstock processors and refiners.
• ODESSA (Oxidative DESulfurization-Steam Assisted) A desulfurization technology combining nanocatalyst platform with oxidative desulfurization to reduce fuel sulphur levels to near 0%, targeting heavy crude and diesel markets with a low heat, low pressure process. Targeted at refiners seeking fuel specification compliance.
• LESR (Low Emissions Steam Reforming) A catalytic process to generate hydrogen with simpler configuration and higher productivity at lower temperatures than conventional steam reforming, enabling economic and environmentally efficient hydrogen production. Targeted at hydrogen producers and energy transition companies.
• DRM (Dry CO2 Reforming of Methane) A catalytic process with a stable catalyst at low temperature (under 600°C) using natural gas, which when combined with LESR eliminates all CO2 reaction emissions in hydrogen and syngas production. Targeted at natural gas processors and hydrogen producers.
• RWGS (Reverse Water Gas Shift) A robust catalytic process that converts CO2 emissions into syngas whenever hydrogen is available, with the catalyst research published in Science journal (vol 384, May 2024). Targeted at CO2 utilization and circular carbon solution providers.
• CatSkid A compact catalyst preparation module that prepares nanocatalyst particles that can be effectively suspended in solution and injected directly into wells, enabling on-site catalyst preparation for efficient and sustainable energy production. Targeted at ISUT deployment sites and field operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 35% emissions reduction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BTG Bioliquids BV (BTL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership to deliver end-to-end advanced biofuels solution combining NanosTech's nanocatalyst technologies with BTG Bioliquids' biofuels processing capabilities for integrated renewable fuel production.
• NULIFE GreenTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for renewable fuels applications combining NanosTech's catalyst technologies with NULIFE's green energy solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals company whose Catalysts business unit provides refining and petrochemical catalysts. Comparable to NanosTech's specialty catalyst and upgrading process portfolio, particularly for heavy feedstocks.
• Honeywell UOP: Established licensor of refining catalysts and process technologies serving oil & gas customers globally. Competes with NanosTech in heavy oil upgrading and refining catalyst markets, with deep customer integration and decades of commercial deployment.
• Johnson Matthey: UK-based specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company with strong catalyst offerings for refining, hydrogen, and emissions control. Comparable to NanosTech's catalyst portfolio across traditional refining and energy transition applications.
• BASF: Global chemical major with a significant catalysts division serving refining and petrochemicals. Broad incumbent offering overlapping solutions to NanosTech's catalyst-based upgrading and process technologies.

Emerging players

• Twelve (formerly Opus 12): California-based climate tech startup converting CO2 into chemicals and fuels using catalytic processes. Directly comparable to NanosTech's Olympia catalyst and Carbon Management Suite in the CO2 utilization space.
• C-Zero: US-based startup developing catalytic technology to convert natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon, addressing CO2-free hydrogen. Comparable to NanosTech's hydrogen and syngas catalyst initiatives (LESR, RWGS).

Regional players

• CRI Catalyst Company (CVR Energy subsidiary): Houston-based refinery catalyst manufacturer focused on hydroprocessing for refineries, with North American regional concentration. Comparable to NanosTech's refining catalyst and upgrading process offerings for heavy feedstocks.
• BTG Bioliquids: Dutch company commercializing fast pyrolysis technology for biomass-to-biofuel conversion. NanosTech's announced strategic partner for end-to-end advanced biofuels solutions; comparable through their combined biorefinery offering.

Direct peers

• Forge Nano: US-based nanotechnology company commercializing atomic layer deposition coatings for catalysts and battery materials. Highly comparable to NanosTech's nanocatalyst thesis and energy transition focus, though focused on coatings rather than catalyst formulations.
• Topsoe: Danish global leader in catalysts and process technology for refining, hydrogen, and CO2 conversion (including RWGS and methanol). Directly comparable to NanosTech across heavy oil upgrading, hydrogen, and carbon management verticals, though at much larger commercial scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanostech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about NanosTech