Climeworks has inaugurated what it describes as the world’s largest innovation facility dedicated to advancing next-generation direct air capture (DAC) technology. The new DAC Innovation Centre is intended to accelerate progress in reducing the cost and improving the scalability of carbon removal.
The facility brings together more than 50 engineers, chemists and technical specialists to focus on improving sorbent materials, boosting energy efficiency and refining system design — all areas seen as critical to making DAC commercially viable at scale. The company said the centre will serve as the core of its strategy to lower costs and expand deployment globally.
Designed as a central hub for research and development, the centre integrates multiple functions: materials R&D, prototyping at small and mid-scale, system optimisation and long-term reliability testing. Climeworks said this structure will help shorten innovation cycles and reduce risks associated with large-scale rollout.
The company has also opened a Carbon Removal Exhibition adjacent to the facility, offering visitors an overview of DAC and other carbon removal approaches and their potential economic and societal impacts.
Located between Zurich’s city centre and airport, the site draws on Switzerland’s wider engineering and climate-tech ecosystem.
Co-CEO Jan Wurzbacher said: “The world needs carbon removals at massive scale — and that means cost reduction is mission-critical. Combined with our operating plants in Iceland, this facility positions Climeworks to lead the next phase of global carbon removal.”
CTO Helin Cox added: “What makes this centre unique is that it brings scientists and engineers together at an unprecedented scale under one roof. By testing and refining our technology collaboratively, we can move faster toward reducing the cost of carbon removal and deploying it at scale.”
