Rotorua tech company secures $23 million to take NZ innovation global
A ground breaking Rotorua-based company turning organic waste into valuable resources is a step closer to taking its technology global after the company and its commercial partners secured NZ$23 million industry co-investment through a water innovation programme in the United Kingdom.
Cetogenix utilises hydrothermal oxidation technology to turn complex organic waste — including wastewater sludge — into renewable natural gas and green ammonia, while reducing emissions and eliminating harmful contaminants.
Its technology platform, Ceto-Boost™, will be a core component of the ‘Hydrothermal Oxidation– Futureproofing Bioresource Management’ project, one of the largest ever funded by the programme. The project will be led by Anglian Water Services and is funded by the water industry and administered through the water regulator, Ofwat.
The programme brings together water utilities, engineering and research organisations to accelerate the development of next-generation infrastructure. The other project partners include Severn Trent Water, Northumbrian Water, Cranfield University, and AtkinsRéalis.
The funding will allow Cetogenix to scale its technology for commercial use, with countries like the United Kingdom interested in how it could be used to meet tightening environmental regulations and net-zero targets, as well as improve waste circularity and contaminant management.
Cetogenix CEO, Dr Trevor Stuthridge, says the project marks a major milestone not just for the company, but for New Zealand’s growing deep tech sector.
“We are seeing increasing demand internationally for solutions that can turn waste into valuable resources, reduce emissions, and support a more circular economy.
“This project will enable us to demonstrate that Ceto-Boost™ can provide a commercially-scalable platform for this opportunity.
“New Zealand has the expertise, know-how and creative thinking to make a real difference in this space.
“This UK project will help us take our technology to the next level internationally – but we also hope to leverage this momentum to make a positive difference in New Zealand’slocal infrastructure and primary sectors,” Dr Stuthridge says.
The programme will run from 2026 to 2029 and will scale up Cetogenix’s proprietary technology for immediate application to the broader United Kingdom and global water sectors.
The company is seeking additional investment to apply the technology across other countries and sectors, such as agriculture and food production.
Cetogenix Chief Science Officer, Dr Daniel Gapes, says the successful programme bid builds on previous collaboration with its United Kingdom partners and represents a critical step toward commercial rollout of the technology internationally.
“It validates more than 15 years of technical development – from its genesis in the New Zealand public research ecosystem, to the Cetogenix founding team working towards using science and innovation to address some of the world’s biggest climate and energy resilience challenges.
“This is further evidence that Aotearoa-developed innovation can compete on a global stage and help address some of the world’s most pressing economic and environmental needs, ”Dr Gapes says.
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About Cetogenix
Cetogenix is a New Zealand-based climate technology company developing advanced waste-to-resource systems focused on transforming complex organic wastes into renewable carbon products, renewable natural gas, recovered nutrients, and other valuable outputs.
Its flagship platform, Ceto-Boost™, uses hydrothermal oxidation to process organic waste streams while reducing emissions, destroying contaminants, and improving resource recovery outcomes.
Cetogenix is headquartered in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Media enquiries
Trevor Stuthridge
Chief Executive Officer
Cetogenix Limited
Email: trevor.stuthridge@cetogenix.co.nz
Phone: +6421 587 092
