Kurita Water Industries Joins raBit, the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels, as a Supporting Member

Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President: Hirohiko Ejiri; hereinafter "Kurita") announced today its participation as a supporting member in the "Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels (raBit)". raBit is a technology research association established in July 2022 with the aim of researching efficiency in the process of "making" fuel. To achieve a carbon-neutral society, it is advancing research on technologies for efficiently producing bioethanol fuel for automobiles under the following themes: Research on efficient ethanol production systems; Research on the recovery and utilization of by-product oxygen and CO2; Research on efficient operation methods for the entire system, including fuel utilization. The Kurita Group is developing solutions in the United States and Europe for the first-generation bioethanol market, which uses corn as a raw material, contributing to improved productivity and stable operation of manufacturing facilities. By participating as a supporting member in raBit and understanding the challenges and latest trends related to improving manufacturing technology for second-generation bioethanol fuel, which does not compete with food, the Kurita Group will accelerate the development of solutions for the second generation. Furthermore, through exchanges with other participating companies, Kurita aims to contribute to the progress of raBit's research themes and, through them, to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. The Kurita Group will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through water and environmental solutions that solve problems for customers and society and provide new value, while responding to demands for solving environmental issues such as climate change and changes in the accelerating business environment.