Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

What Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth does

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) is a Japanese public interest incorporated foundation (公益財団法人地球環境産業技術研究機構) established in 1990 under the government's New Earth 21 Program, headquartered in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture with a Tokyo liaison office. The organization operates four specialized research groups — System Research (climate change scenario development), Bio Research (biorefinery and bioprocess), Chemical Research (CO2 separation, recovery, utilization, green processes), and CO2 Storage Research — delivering applied environmental technology R&D to Japanese government ministries (METI, Ministry of Education), NEDO-funded national projects, and industrial partners.

RITE's core technology platform is its growth-independent bioprocess using metabolically engineered Corynebacterium bacteria, in which microbial cell division is arrested while the cells continue producing target compounds, enabling space-time yields comparable to chemical catalysis. The Bio Research Group uses this platform to produce green chemicals (phenol, 4-HBA, PCA, shikimic acid, catechol, organic acids, amino acids) and biofuels (ethanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, bio-jet fuel, hydrogen) from non-food biomass. The Chemical Research Group develops amine-based CO2 chemical absorbents achieving 2.0 GJ/t-CO2 recovery energy, CO2 molecular gate membranes using dendrimer chemistry, and RITEsorb-1 hydrophobic solid adsorbents for high-pressure CO2 capture. RITE monetizes primarily through government grants (NEDO Biomanufacturing Revolution, Carbon Recycling Acceleration, Moonshot R&D, JST COI-NEXT), commissioned research, membership fees from the Industrialization Strategy Council, and a jointly controlled commercialization subsidiary, Green Chemicals Co., Ltd., established with Sumitomo Bakelite.

Name

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Legal name

公益財団法人地球環境産業技術研究機構

Website

https://rite.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RITE is a Japanese public-interest research foundation (est. 1990) that develops carbon-neutral technologies — growth-independent bioprocesses, CO2 separation membranes, amine absorbents, and CCS methods — serving government ministries, NEDO projects, and industrial partners including a JV with Sumitomo Bakelite.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Technology Research

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS) (EUAAAIAC), Bio-Based & Biodegradable Compounds (PLA/PHA/Starch Blends) (IMANABAF)

Keywords

• CO2 separation technology
• Biorefinery technology
• Carbon capture systems
• Green chemistry research
• Environmental technology R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RITE conducts research and development of innovative environmental technologies across four specialized groups: (1) climate change scenario development, (2) biorefinery technology using metabolically engineered Corynebacterium bacteria for green chemicals and biofuels, (3) CO2 separation, recovery, utilization and green process technology, and (4) CO2 geological storage technology. The organization delivers its technology through commissioned research, joint development partnerships, technology licensing, and a joint venture (Green Chemicals Co., Ltd. with Sumitomo Bakelite) for commercialization of bio-based chemicals.

Product overview

RITE is a public research organization (Kadan: 公益財団法人) focused on developing innovative environmental technologies for climate change mitigation. The organization operates four research groups: Bio Research Group, Chemical Research Group, System Research Group, and CO2 Storage Research Group. The core technology platform is the RITE Bioprocess, a growth-independent bioprocess using engineered Corynebacterium bacteria for sustainable chemical production from biomass. The Chemical Research Group develops CO2 separation and recovery technologies including solid and liquid chemical absorbents, separation membranes, and moisture-tolerant adsorbents. The Bio Research Group develops smart cell technology for producing green chemicals (phenolic compounds, organic acids, amino acids, aromatic compounds) and biofuels from non-edible biomass. The organization also maintains a subsidiary, Green Chemicals Co. (GCC), jointly established with Sumitomo Bakelite, for commercializing bio-based chemical products including phenol, shikimic acid, and protocatechuic acid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RITE Bioprocess: Growth-independent bioprocess technology using Corynebacterium bacteria for producing green chemicals and biofuels from biomass
• RITE Today
• Carbon Recovery Technology Evaluation Center (RCCC)

Products and services

• Green Chemicals (Green Chemicals Co., Ltd.) Joint venture with Sumitomo Bakelite for development, manufacturing, and sales of green chemicals produced via RITE's biorefinery technology. Products include green phenol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), protocatechuic acid (PCA), shikimic acid, and catechol.
• Carbon Recovery Technology Evaluation Center (RCCC) Evaluation center for carbon recovery technologies offering equipment and evaluation services for companies developing CCUS and carbon recycling solutions.
• Lycopene Mass Production Technology Using Smart Cells Smart cell technology for high-efficiency lycopene production through metabolic engineering, targeting cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical markets.
• Commissioned Research and Technology Development Services Research and development services commissioned by national projects (NEDO, JST) and industrial partners, covering climate change scenarios, biorefinery technology, CO2 separation, and CO2 storage.
• Industrialization Strategy Council Membership Program Membership-based program for industry partners offering exclusive seminars three times per year, research presentations, and networking opportunities to advance commercialization of RITE's environmental technologies.
• RITE Bioprocess Technology Licensing Licensing of the proprietary RITE Bioprocess (growth-independent bioprocess using Corynebacterium bacteria) and Smart Cell Technology for producing green chemicals and biofuels from non-food biomass.
• CO2 Separation and Recovery Technology Licensing Licensing of proprietary CO2 separation technologies including CO2 molecular gate membranes, RITEsorb-1 hydrophobic adsorbent, and amine-based chemical absorbents for IGCC, flue gas, and high-pressure gas applications.
• Climate Change Scenario Analysis Services System analysis and scenario development for global warming countermeasures including transition roadmaps toward carbon neutrality, using energy supply-demand structure modeling.
• CO2 Geological Storage R&D Services Research and development services for CO2 geological storage technologies through the CO2 Storage Research Group, including CCS technical workshops and technology transfer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 times productivity improvement in lycopene production using smart cell technology
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green Chemicals Co., Ltd. (GCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture company established by RITE and Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. for research, development, manufacturing, and sales of green chemicals produced via biorefinery technology. Products include green phenol, 4-HBA, PCA, and shikimic acid.
• Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Green Chemicals Co., Ltd. for development and commercialization of green chemicals including phenol and 4-HBA using RITE's bioprocess technology.
• Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint laboratory established for collaborative research and education. The Microbial Molecular Functionology Laboratory conducts joint R&D on bioprocesses using plants as raw material and microorganisms, aimed at realizing a recycling-oriented and low-carbon society.
• Kansai UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research including MOF-inspired gate adsorption zeolite development and MOF membrane separation research, presented at Industrialization Strategy Council seminars.
• Kyushu UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on amine-containing gel CO2 absorbent and separation membrane research and commercialization efforts, presented at Industrialization Strategy Council seminars.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research with U.S. Department of Energy's NREL for practical application of bioethanol production technology from non-food biomass using growth-independent bioprocess.
• Harima Chemical Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of mass production technology for lycopene using smart cells (genetically engineered Corynebacterium bacteria), achieving over 100 times productivity compared to initial strains.
• Takasago Perfumery Co., Ltd. (高砂香料)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on rose fragrance production from unused wood biomass. RITE, Takasago, and GEI are working together to achieve commercial production of rose fragrance.
• Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd. (GEI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with RITE on rose fragrance production project alongside Takasago Perfumery, working toward commercial production.
• Next Generation Membrane Module Technology Research Association (MGM Research Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch association developing CO2 separation membranes for IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) power generation. Members include RITE, Kuraray, Nitto Denko, and Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering (previously New Steel & Sumikin Engineering).
• New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRITE participates in multiple NEDO national projects including Biomanufacturing Revolution Promotion Project, Carbon Recycling Acceleration Project, and Moonshot-type R&D projects.
• Australia CO2CRC (Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on greenhouse gas technologies, featured in Carbon Capture Journal.
• Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRITE participates in JST COI-NEXT program for bioeconomy innovation co-creation toward a carbon-circulating society.
• CO2CRC (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration on carbon capture and storage technologies.

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Earth Institute: Japanese bio-based chemicals company developing platform chemicals from non-food biomass using engineered microorganisms. Directly comparable to RITE's Bio Research Group, with overlapping technology approaches and a partnership history (RITE-GEI-Takasago rose fragrance collaboration).
• Genomatica: US-based bio-engineering company producing bio-based platform chemicals (e.g., bio-BDO, bio-butylene glycol) using engineered microorganisms. Closely comparable to RITE's bioprocess platform in product category and metabolic engineering approach.
• LanzaTech: Gas fermentation company producing ethanol, jet fuel, and chemicals from industrial waste gases using engineered microbes. Comparable to RITE's growth-independent bioprocess in using microorganisms as production catalysts for fuels and chemicals.
• Amyris: Synthetic biology company that produced bio-based farnesene and specialty ingredients via engineered yeast. Overlaps with RITE's bio-aromatics and specialty chemical production using engineered microorganisms (though Amyris's bankruptcy restructuring highlights execution risk in the category).
• Gevo: US-based renewable fuels and chemicals company producing low-carbon hydrocarbons and sustainable aviation fuel from biomass. Comparable to RITE's bio-jet fuel and bio-butanol/ethanol programs, both targeting aviation and fuel applications via bioprocess.

Broad incumbents

• Virent (Aramco): Bio-based aromatic chemicals and biofuels company (now owned by Aramco). Directly comparable to RITE's bio-phenol, bio-aromatics, and bio-jet fuel programs as a competing bio-aromatics platform with significant corporate backing.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Major Japanese engineering conglomerate developing large-scale CCS, CO2 capture systems, and hydrogen technologies. Overlaps with RITE's Chemical Research Group and CO2 Storage Research Group on CO2 separation and geological storage R&D in Japan.
• IHI Corporation: Japanese heavy industry company with active CCS, CO2 capture, and ammonia-related programs. Comparable to RITE's CO2 separation/storage work as a domestic Japanese peer pursuing carbon capture deployment at industrial scale.
• Sumitomo Chemical: Major Japanese chemical company with active programs in bio-based and sustainable chemistry. Broad incumbent comparable to RITE's overall bio-based chemicals portfolio, particularly as a domestic Japanese peer also pursuing green phenol and specialty bio-chemicals.

Emerging players

• Climeworks: Swiss direct air capture company developing solid sorbent-based CO2 capture technology. Partially comparable to RITE's RITEsorb-1 and moisture-tolerant solid adsorbent work, though focused on DAC rather than point-source CO2 capture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rite_jp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/research-institute-of-innovative-technology-for-the-earth-rite-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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