These awards are divided into three categories: the best academic career (Futura), the best scientific publication (Investiga), and the best work in the field of innovation based on public-private collaboration (Innova)
SusChem-Spain, Technology and Innovation Platform for Sustainable Chemistry, has awarded for the thirteenth consecutive year it’s SusChem Awards for Young Chemistry Researchers. The goal is to recognise, support, encourage, foster, and promote scientific-informative activities among young Spanish chemistry researchers, while promoting, developing, and sharing the discipline of Chemistry, both as a pure science and in regards to its applications, in Spain.
The expert jury met electronically and was made up by Adriana Orejas (on behalf of Feique and SusChem-Spain), Francisco García Labiano (in representation of the Higher Council for Scientific Research - CSIC), Mª Aránzazu Heras (on behalf of the Spanish Conference of Deans of Chemistry - CEDQ), Gabriel González (for the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office - OEPM), Carmen Cartagena (on behalf of the National Association of Chemists and Chemical Engineers of Spain – ANQUE), Antoni Camí (in representation of the International Chemistry Event - Expoquimia), and Jesús Torrecilla (for TECNALIA Ventures, TECNALIA’s Deep Tech Venture Builder).
Young researchers awards
The SusChem Awards, aimed at young researchers under 40 years of age, are divided into three categories representing different areas of performance of young chemistry researchers: Futura, Investiga, and Innova.
These awards provide recognition to the best academic career (Futura), the best scientific publication (Investiga), and the best work in the field of innovation based on public-private collaboration (Innova).
The winners of the XIII Edition have been:
- Futura Category
Award for the best academic record in a chemistry degree or any other degree related to science and chemical technologies, graduating in 2020.
The jury, chaired by Carmen Cartagena (ANQUE), has decided unanimously to grant the award endowed with a cash prize of €2,000 euros and a year’s membership to SusChem-Spain and ANQUE to Irea Mosquera Lois, for her brilliant academic career and extracurricular work. Irea graduated in Chemistry from the University of Santiago de Compostela with an average score of 9,52 over 10.
- Investiga Category
Award to the author of the best scientific publication, dated 2020, in any area of chemistry, and who held a PhD qualification by 31 December 2020.
The jury, chaired by Francisco García Labiano (CSIC), has unanimously decided to grant this award, which is endowed with €3,000 and a year’s membership of SusChem-Spain and ANQUE, to Mateo Sánchez López. Mateo earned a PhD in Chemistry, for his project Directed evolution improves the catalytic efficiency of TEV protease, developed at Stanford University.
- Innova Category
Award for the best work developed through a public-private collaboration. The work submitted must have generated results in the last three years in any area related to sustainable chemistry, including work on the transition to the Circular Economy and Decarbonisation.
The jury, chaired by Adriana Orejas (Feique y SusChem-Spain), has unanimously decided to grant the €5,000 award, a year’s membership of SusChem-Spain and ANQUE, and the chance of enjoying a stay at the TECNALIA applied chemistry research laboratories or a tutoring programme by the TECNALIA Ventures Team to Francisco Manuel Baena Moreno, in order to improve his skills in the field of technological entrepreneurship. Francisco Manuel holds a PhD in Energy, Chemical and Environmental Engineering. He has obtained promising results in a project for the capture of CO2 in urban wastewater treatment plants to obtain new recoverable resources (NURECCO2). This project was developed at the University of Seville, in collaboration with the Andalusian Association for Research and Industrial Cooperation (AICIA) and Emasesa.
About SusChem Awards for Young Chemistry Researchers
The establishment of these awards, created by SusChem-Spain, is promoted by the Spanish Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEIQUE), the National Association of Chemists and Chemical Engineers of Spain (ANQUE), the National Association of Chemists and Chemical Engineers of Spain (CEDQ), Expoquimia, the Chemistry and Society Forum, and TECNALIA Ventures.
