R&D and Social Implementation Plan Formulated for "Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO2 and Other Sources" Projects

1. Background and purpose

Toward the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, METI has established a Green Innovation Fund at a level of 2 trillion yen under the FY2020 Tertiary Supplementary Budget and decide to assign the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to its operation. Based on specific goals shared by the public and private sectors, the government will provide continuous support over the next ten years to companies and other organizations committed to take on challlenge toward achieving the ambitious goals as one of the most critical business issues. The support will assist efforts ranging from research and development (R&D) through demonstrations to social implementation of the outcomes.
In order to ensure proper and efficient execution of the fund, the Green Innovation Project Committee under the Industrial Structure Council finalized the Fund Allocation Policy for Each Field. Based on this policy, field-specific working groups established under the Committee deliberate on issues such as the priority and appropriateness of the amount to be implemented by the fund for each project. Then, the divisions and offices in charge of the project at the responsible ministries formulate the content of each project as an "R&D and Social Implementation Plan," and start calls for applicants.
Today, METI formulated an R&D and Social Implementation Plan for "Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO₂ and Other Sources" projects based on discussions by the Working Group on the Field of Energy Structure Transformation.

2. Main content of the R&D and Social Implementation Plan for "Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics CO₂ and Other Sources" projects

• Aim to reduce CO₂ emissions by establishing (1) technologies for converting the heat sources of naphtha cracking furnaces to carbon-free sources (eg.ammonia) and other substances; and (2) chemical recycling technologies for producing raw materials for plastics from waste plastics and rubber.
• Aim to convert CO₂ into raw materials for plastics by developing (1) technology for producing functional chemicals from CO₂; and (2) artificial photosynthesis technology for producing basic chemicals (olefins) from water and CO₂ using photocatalysts.

3. Future schedule

NEDO starts a call for applicants for the "Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO2 and Other Sources" projects today. For more information, please see METI's press release "Call for Applicants Starts for 'Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO2 and Other Sources' Projects."

Related material

• R&D and Social Implementation Plan for the "Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO2 and Other Sources" Projects (Outline) (PDF:209KB)

Division in Charge

• About the fund in general

  Carbon Neutrality Project Promotion Office, Environmental Policy Division, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau

• About the details of the project

  Materials Innovation Office, Material Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau