Blog No. 3: MOFs: A Nobel-Winning Climate Solution – A New Resilience Agenda for Private Markets

Written By Oliver Heiland

By Dr. Oliver Heiland - October 09, 2025

The Nobel Prize medal for Chemistry, symbolizing groundbreaking innovation. Source: www.nobelprize.org

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has spotlighted a transformative breakthrough: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs).

Awarded to pioneers Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi, this recognition celebrates not just scientific achievement but a real-world solution to pressing climate challenges. MOFs are revealing how science, technology, and investment are converging to drive the green transition, offering scalable tools that align sustainability with value creation in private markets. 

At Capital for Resilience Advisors, we see this as a pivotal moment for private market investors. As a strategic partner at the intersection of climate, nature, and technology, we help asset managers, banks, long-term investors, impact investors, and development finance institutions navigate these shifts—across strategy, investment solutions, and governance.

1.   Honoring the Pioneers: 2025 Chemistry Nobel Winners

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi underscores MOFs' potential to tackle climate change head-on. These frameworks, developed over decades, are now unlocking innovative applications that blend cutting-edge science with practical application for climate solutions. This award highlights how science converts into investable opportunities for private markets, bridging lab discoveries with market realities.

2. Decoding MOFs: The Building Blocks of Tomorrow

MOFs are porous materials engineered at the molecular level, functioning like "hotels" – creating vast internal spaces with surfaces exceeding the framework by several dimensions. Example: just a few grams create a surface area equivalent to a football field. In addition, their modular design based on metal ions linked by organic molecules can be customized for specific tasks This unique structure can capture gases, store energy, and purify water—making MOFs cornerstone technology for addressing global sustainability goals and for the green economy.

Schematic drawing of a metal-organic framework (MOF) structure (Bell, David. (2018). The Promise of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Use in Liquid Chromatography. Lc Gc North America. 36.)

Schematic drawing of a metal-organic framework (MOF) structure (Bell, David. (2018). The Promise of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Use in Liquid Chromatography. Lc Gc North America. 36.)

3. From Lab Innovation to Climate Action

MOFs are already transforming climate solutions on a global scale. Here are some key applications reshaping industries:

Harvest water from arid air:

In water-scarce regions, MOF-based devices extract moisture from the atmosphere, providing a reliable source for communities and agriculture.

A solar panel powers a device that harvests water from the air in California's Mojave Desert.Mathieu Prévot

A solar panel powers a device that harvests water from the air in California's Mojave Desert. Photo credit: Mathieu Prévot

Reduce CO₂ in industrial emissions:

By selectively capturing carbon dioxide at emission sources, MOFs help industries lower their footprint and comply with tightening regulations.

Schematic of solvent-based carbon capture from blast furnace-based steel plant.

Schematic of carbon capture from blast furnace-based steel plant. Graph credit: NETL - National Energy Technology Laboratory

Remove forever chemicals (PFAS) from water:

These persistent pollutants are notoriously hard to eliminate, but MOFs offer efficient filtration, safeguarding ecosystems and public health.

Plastics in the ocean

Plastic pollution and juvenile fish. Photo credit: Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash

Store hydrogen for clean energy:

As hydrogen emerges as a key fuel for decarbonization, MOFs provide safe, high-density storage solutions to support the energy transition.

Schematic of a renewable energy, hydrogen energy storage (Paul Breeze, Chapter 10 - Power System Energy Storage Technologies, Editor(s): Paul Breeze, Power Generation Technologies (Third Edition), Newnes, 2019).

4. Why Investors Should Rethink the Climate-Nature-Technology Nexus

Innovations like MOFs signal a critical shift: technology aligned with sustainability isn't optional; it's a driver of real impact and market frontiers.

Private market investors must integrate this nexus to capture growth while mitigating systemic risks. At the core, it's about aligning investments with long-term value creation, where climate resilience and biodiversity goals intersect with technological advancement.

Forward-looking strategies now prioritize tech-led solutions that address interconnected challenges, from decarbonization to resource efficiency.

5. Resilience Is No Longer Optional

The transition to climate-, nature-, and technology-aligned business models is accelerating. Investors positioning themselves today will reap the benefits of resilient portfolios. At Capital for Resilience Advisors, we specialize in guiding this transformation, ensuring your strategies, products, and governance are built for the future. In select cases, we also support high-innovation startups at the climate-nature-technology nexus, enhancing their readiness for institutional capital.

 Join the Resilience Conversation

Explore our insights and connect with us to navigate the evolving private markets landscape.

Visit www.cfr-advisors.com, follow us on LinkedIn, or check our profile on Crunchbase.

Capital for Resilience Advisors exemplifies the integration of climate, nature, and technology into private markets investment strategy—investment and return-driven, yet strategically aligned with resilience goals. Based at Technology Park Heidelberg and managed by Dr. Oliver Heiland, we're here to partner with you.

References

For further reading on the topics discussed:

Photo & image credits:

Note: all images are used for illustrative purposes and credits are provided to the original sources.

Oliver Heiland
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Blog No. 1: Resilience - Adaption - Growth