UP Catalyst: Advanced Carbon Materials from CO₂

UP Catalyst (Estonia) is a University of Tartu spin-off (founded 2019) developing a novel molten-salt electrolysis process to convert CO₂ emissions into carbon nanomaterials (graphite, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, carbon black) .

Its mission is to create a local, sustainable supply of battery-grade graphite and conductive additives for Europe, directly addressing China’s dominance in these critical materials. The founders (including Estonian researchers) built on NASA-derived technology, earning EU backing for carbon-negative graphite production .

This analysis answers: How does UP Catalyst's molten-salt electrolysis convert CO2 into carbon nanomaterials such as graphite, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and carbon black? What is the readiness of UP Catalyst's carbon-negative graphite production and how does it address China's dominance in battery-grade critical materials? How does the University of Tartu spin-out's NASA-derived technology and EU backing support a local, sustainable European supply chain? What capability gaps, IP and strategic indicators determine UP Catalyst's role in European material sovereignty?