Belgian deeptech startup D-CRBN has raised €17.5 million in a Series A funding round to scale its plasma-based technology that converts industrial carbon dioxide into usable carbon molecules. The round was led by Astaia, with participation from the European Innovation Council Fund and SFPIM, bringing the company’s total funding to more than €20 million.
The Antwerp-based company, founded in 2021, is also opening a secondary funding tranche of up to €5 million for strategic industrial partners. These partners are expected to play an active role in accelerating the deployment of its technology as it moves from pilot validation toward full industrial scale-up.
D-CRBN’s technology uses renewable electricity and electrified plasma processes to convert CO₂-rich industrial emissions and hydrocarbons into carbon monoxide and syngas. These outputs serve as essential building blocks for producing sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials. The process replaces fossil-fuel-based conversion methods and avoids unwanted byproducts such as carbon black, making it a potential solution for reducing emissions in heavy industry.
The company has already validated its system at industrial pilot scale in collaboration with partners in the steel and chemicals sectors. These demonstrations are now progressing toward commercial deployment, targeting industries that are among the most difficult to decarbonize.
The funding reflects growing investor focus on industrial decarbonisation in Europe, where sectors like steel and chemicals face increasing pressure under regulatory frameworks such as the EU Emissions Trading System and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Technologies that convert emissions into valuable inputs are gaining importance as they address both environmental compliance and supply chain security.
Investors including Astaia and the European Innovation Council Fund highlighted D-CRBN’s role in advancing Europe’s circular carbon economy. The company’s approach aligns with broader policy trends that promote the reuse of carbon emissions as industrial feedstocks rather than treating them solely as waste.
Proceeds from the funding round will be used to build industrial demonstration units, expand engineering capacity, and accelerate commercialization of the CO₂-to-syngas platform. Strategic partnerships across steel, chemicals, and energy sectors are expected to support scaling efforts and broaden commercial adoption.
As D-CRBN advances toward large-scale deployment, its success will depend on the performance of its demonstration systems and the strength of its industrial collaborations. If execution aligns with expectations, the company could become a key player in Europe’s emerging circular carbon economy, helping transform industrial emissions into valuable commercial resources while supporting long-term decarbonisation goals.
