#Japan #Fusion Technology #Minato #KII #LINEA Innovations

KII's Strategic Investment in LINEA Innovations

The Keio Innovation Initiative (KII) has recently made a significant investment in LINEA Innovations, a startup dedicated to developing commercial reactors using advanced fuel fusion reactions. This funding, which totals 1.75 billion yen, will enable LINEA to enhance its development capabilities and strengthen its operations, thereby accelerating the social demonstration of its innovative technologies in fusion energy.

LINEA Innovations, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, is on a mission to create a safe and simple fusion reactor that avoids the emission of neutrons. By utilizing light hydrogen and boron-11 as fuel, LINEA’s research focuses on advanced fuel fusion (p-11B fusion), marking a substantial departure from traditional D-T fusion reactors, which face challenges such as the handling of tritium and the production of radioactive waste. This innovative approach aims for a next-generation energy source characterized by high safety standards and sustainability.

The technical groundwork involves LINEA’s proprietary Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) method, which captures a high-density target plasma within a magnetic mirror configuration. By employing a non-thermal approach that reacts high-energy beam ions with this plasma, the company seeks to efficiently realize advanced fuel fusion. The recent capital increase will accelerate research and development efforts toward demonstrating p-11B fusion reactions using the FRC mirror hybrid method within the coming years.

Achieving practical application of this technology is anticipated to lead to an energy source with zero CO2 emissions, high safety, stable operation, and minimal radioactive waste production. This development highlights LINEA’s potential contribution to enhancing Japan’s energy independence and helping the nation reach its carbon-neutral goals.

Company Overview

LINEA Innovations, Inc.

• - Location: 6-10-1 Roppongi, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 15F, Minato, Tokyo
• - CEO: Yuta Nojiri
• - Founded: September 2023
• - Business Focus: Realization of commercial reactors using advanced fuel fusion and related technologies
• - Website: LINEA Innovations

About the Keio Innovation Initiative (KII)

Founded in December 2015, KII was established to support startups leveraging the research achievements from Keio University. Since January 2020, KII has centered its mission on leading investments in seed and early-stage startups focused on digital technology innovations and solutions for medical and health challenges, aiming to implement research into society and address social issues.

In October 2023, KII announced the launch of Japan's first impact fund from a university venture capital firm, the KII No. 3 Impact Fund. The fund's goal is to align financial returns with positive and measurable social and environmental impacts, working towards a society where everyone can achieve a healthy and happy life.

Company Overview of KII

• - Company Name: Keio Innovation Initiative, Inc.
• - Business Focus: Development of university-origin technology ventures, operation of venture capital funds
• - Capital: 100 million yen (including a capital reserve of 50 million yen)
• - CEO: Hirotaro Yamagishi
• - Website: KII

All information contained in this release is up-to-date as of the date of publication.