In order to spur innovation in the energy sector and create new business opportunities, the Japanese energy company JERA Co., Inc. (JERA) has started corporate venture capital activities.
JERA stated in a statement on Friday that this initiative, which is being run by JERA Ventures, a recently formed internal organization, will make strategic investments totalling $300 million in start-up businesses with cutting-edge technologies or business concepts as well as venture capital funds that have close ties to such businesses.
According to the statement, JERA Ventures seeks to serve as a link between start-up businesses and JERA while serving as a good partner for those businesses as they take on the challenge of changing the world in the energy sector.
The company will contribute to accelerated technological development, subject to safety and regulatory compliance, not only through capital participation but also by offering the value of its strengths as one of the largest energy companies in the world, such as its facilities and its value chains for liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and ammonia, for proof-of-concept, demo, or testing projects using real assets or facilities.
The three main strategic technology investment areas are as follows:
- Energy transformation: renewable energy sources, smarter use of current energy resources, and the development of hydrogen and ammonia value chains
- Customer-centric: Digital technologies that use blockchains, artificial intelligence (AI), digital energy platforms, etc. to provide new value to customers.
- Corporate: Well-being, femtech, and other technologies that foster employee contentment and increase business value.
According to JERA, its goal is to offer state-of-the-art solutions to the world’s energy problems.
In spite of problems like climate change, resource shortages, and energy security, the company declared it would keep supplying reliable, economically viable clean energy.
To do this, JERA Ventures will collaborate with innovative start-ups that have fresh perspectives or ideas as it takes on the challenge of coming up with novel solutions that go beyond conventional wisdom. This will be done with a strong sense of social responsibility.
