Titanium is one of the most sought-after materials due to its high tensile strength with light weight, its ability to withstand extreme temperatures, and its excellent biocompatibility.

However, the source materials are also exceptionally rare, and traditional titanium production is not only bad for the environment but also exceedingly expensive.

Ukraine has one of the largest resources of raw titanium worldwide, and the industry is an important part of the national economy. But due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, the traditional titanium supply chain has been compromised.

With their backs to the wall, scientists from the Ukrainian company Velta discovered a way to produce titanium that’s so innovative, it deserves to be an element of its own. Idea: Ukrainium™. The strongest element on earth – now also sustainable and affordable.

The key difference is that its production makes use of a chemical reaction instead of thermal energy. Due to low temperatures and zero waste, production emits 8 times less CO2 and is 4 times less expensive than titanium, while maintaining the same strength and lightness. This makes many new applications possible: entry-level consumer products, affordable medical supply, sustainable industrial fabrication – all made from the strongest material on the planet, now accessible to everyone. Ukrainium™ is the strongest element on Earth, reinvented. Impact: While the initial development was funded with $3 million, further funding cannot be disclosed due to the sensitive geopolitical environment.

Velta is in talks with several manufacturing companies in Europe and the US to use Ukrainium™ in their production. Due to requiring fewer steps and energy, the new process is highly scalable. With 10,000 tons of Ukrainium™ to be produced annually, the new Velta facility will save 70,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Velta is in talks with several US states and EU countries to build several more facilities until 2030.