Carbon, Chemistry, and Change: The Journey of Prof. Andrew R. Barron
From theatrical beginnings to cutting-edge carbon innovation, the journey of Prof. Andrew R. Barron is as dynamic as it is impactful. Whether on stage or in the lab, his passion for communication, science, and practical application has guided a career that seamlessly bridges academia, entrepreneurship, and environmental transformation.
Born in Welwyn Garden City and raised in Farnham, Andrew’s early exposure to science through passionate schoolteachers and public performance at Farnham’s Redgrave Theatre laid a foundation for both technical mastery and inspirational speaking. His academic path took shape at Imperial College under the influence of Nobel Laureate Prof. Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, whose irreverent curiosity helped spark Andrew’s pursuit of a research-driven career.
From Harvard to Rice to Swansea Universities, Andrew’s academic tenure was defined not just by prolific research output, but by a bold leap into entrepreneurship—founding his first company to support talented researchers during an economic downturn. His commitment to real-world impact led to the formation of MiDAS Green Innovations, a company designed to address the most pressing challenge of our century: climate change.
In this article, we explore Prof. Barron’s unique approach to carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS); his belief in symbiotic technology ecosystems; and the groundbreaking RICE project that laid the foundation for MiDAS’ success. We also delve into his future goals, key insights, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating today’s innovation landscape.
Early Life and Education
Tell us about your early life, education, and what led you to start your business?
I was born in Welwyn Garden City, but my family moved to Farnham before my first birthday. It was there that my early education was impacted by two science teachers at at Heath End Secondary School, Mr. Roberts (Chemistry) and Mr. Truelove (Physics), who instilled a love of their subjects mixed with experience of the practical applications that came from their prior industrial experience. Attending the youth program at Farnham’s Redgrave Theatre allowed me to be in the world premiere of a play and gain the vital experience in public performance that I have continued to use as an inspirational speaker.
Following A-levels, I studied Chemistry at Imperial College and was inspired by the Nobel Prize winner Prof. Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, whose passion for research, as well as irreverence for authority, led me to choose an academic career, starting with my PhD under his supervision. After a brief stay at the University of Texas at Austin, I joined the faculty in Chemistry at Harvard University. Publishing over 100 journal articles in 8 years, I was inspired to start a company based on my research, in part to provide employment for two superb researchers who were having problems finding jobs in the early 1990s US economy.
Taking up the Welsh Chair at Rice University in 1995, I was one of the few faculty to have started a company and therefore was involved in initiating IP, tech transfer, and spin-outs from Rice. My entrepreneurial focus led to an appointment as the Prince of Wales Visiting Innovator and then setting up the Energy Safety Research Institute at Swansea University, with the goal of changing the way in which technology is commercialized, and focused on solving issues of decarbonisation and the circular economy. MiDAS Green Innovations was created to take these ideas onwards.
About the Business
What is your business, and what makes it unique in the market?
I believe that mitigating the impacts of climate change is the single biggest challenge for the 21st century. The UK’s legislated goal of Net Zero by 2050 offers an opportunity to scientists, engineers, innovators, and business leaders that has not been seen since JFK’s 1962 challenge to put a man on the moon at the end of the decade. However, there are many impediments to success, including:
● First, while many of the required technologies are already in place, the additional cost to the consumer or taxpayer stifles adoption. Thus, carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) and alternative energy vector solutions need to be profitable.
● Second, any new technology must be de-risked at an industrial scale prior to major industry adoption, which becomes difficult for SME innovators.
● Third, it is much easier to raise $100 million of funding than $100,000, meaning that many SME-based technologies cannot raise capital.
MiDAS Green Innovations was founded to coordinate multiple technologies and SMEs to overcome these issues, creating symbiotic technology systems to tackle large-scale projects whereby the problem is solved not by a single process, but by multiple processes, each contributing while creating value for a range of customers.
MiDAS’ unique approach is to understand the potential interdependency of multiple technologies to solve carbon emissions for heavy industry in a manner that creates economic value while consuming waste streams, such that carbon utilization and sequestration are integrated within a circular economy model.
To paraphrase JFK, we choose to go to achieve these goals “not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
Key Achievement
What is one key achievement or milestone your business has reached?
The Reducing Industrial Carbon Emissions (RICE) Project was a precursor to the concepts of a symbiotic ecosystem that defines MiDAS’ unique approach to CCUS and the Net Zero challenge. The RICE Project was able to convert low TRL technology to multiple high TRL demonstrators on industrial locations that were subsequently operational for over 3 years (including during COVID). This achievement demonstrated the concept of TRL jumping, i.e., it is possible to go from TRL 3–4 to 8–9 in a single step with the right finance, partners, planning, and inspiration. These technology concepts were converted to commercial entities and importantly demonstrated that creating value from CO₂ is possible, i.e., do not think of CO₂ as a pollutant but as a resource.
However, this success came with the following lessons:
● Organizing the integration of a pilot within a major industrial site is difficult and requires a champion.
● Regarding the Net Zero goals, it is important not to focus solely on large industries, SMEs and smaller emitters can be beneficial partners.
● Universities are not creative enough to lead large projects.
The difficulties of individual SMEs to raise funding for new technology and the scale required for industry to take notice are key components of the “Valley of Death” that VC funds claim they solve. As an alternative, MiDAS is demonstrating that the creation of a symbiotic ecosystem with multiple technologies has the potential to create impact.
Evidence of this achievement included being named as one of the Top 100 Influential People of 2025, one of the Top 25 Thought Leaders, and the recipient of the Hydrogen Award in 2024.
Future Goals
What are your future goals for the business?
We are working on the final stages of the project plan that is aimed at reducing the CO₂ emissions of a major emitter by 300,000 tons per year. In order to achieve this, MiDAS is bringing together CCS (C-Zero, Ltd.) with CCU (Algae Products International), green hydrogen (Kronos Energy Solutions), and food waste valorization (Food-to-Fertilizer) to convert CO₂ emissions and waste minerals (such as steel slag, recycled concrete aggregate, or fly ash) into useful volumetrically stabilized aggregate, calcium carbonate, protein, high-value chemicals, green hydrogen, and oxygen.
This project, along with smaller ones in progress, will be a template that can be replicated globally on different industrial sites using different combinations of technology, consuming different wastes, but in each case, creating a sustainable, economically viable system that ensures the cost of CCUS is not passed along to the consumer.
MiDAS is working with partners in the UK, EU, Asia, and the Middle East.
Staying Competitive
How do you stay competitive in your industry?
It is difficult to be competitive in CCUS when the UK Government commits £2.2 billion of taxpayer money to two regional projects. However, the very regional nature of these projects creates “regional discrimination” that offers projects that have demonstrated potential, low risk, quick implementation, and more flexibility an opportunity.
A common attribute to traditional CCUS projects is the very high cost to the emitter, which is passed down to the consumer. MiDAS’ approach is to approach emitters with projects whereby the CAPEX is covered by external investment, whose return comes from the profitable nature of the process. The emitter’s role is to provide land, power, water, and, of course, CO₂. In return, their emissions are reduced.
Advice to Entrepreneurs
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
I have four thoughts that I share with entrepreneurs I mentor:
Surround yourself with people with experience, because it is the team that investors look at, not the details of the technology you hold so dear to your heart.
Don’t fear dilution if the investment gets the company to its next stage, after all, “10% of something is worth more than 100% of nothing.”
Understand that as an early-stage entrepreneur, there will be a time to hand over the reins to someone with the skill set and experience to take the company through manufacturing and sales growth or IPO.
The support of your family is important because the journey can be difficult. In my case my wife Merrie remains my “greatest fan”.
Finally, as the mock-Latin phrase, promoting resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, says: “Non illegitimi carborundum.”
Conclusion
Prof. Andrew R. Barron's journey is a powerful reminder that science, when fused with vision and real-world application, can become a driving force for global change. From his formative academic roots to building one of the most forward-thinking green innovation companies, his work continues to challenge the status quo and open new pathways in the pursuit of a sustainable, circular economy.
Through MiDAS Green Innovations, Prof. Barron is not only addressing the challenges of climate change but also redefining how industry and innovation can work hand-in-hand for a cleaner, more resilient future. His commitment to collaboration, economic viability, and technological synergy sets a new benchmark for entrepreneurs and scientists alike.
To learn more about his groundbreaking work and connect with him professionally, visit www.midasgreeninnovation.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.
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