The SusChem Awards recognise the excellence of four young researchers in chemistry

Jesús Torrecilla, Director of Ventures for Energy, Climate and Urban Transition at TECNALIA, takes part as a member of the jury of experts

The SusChem-Spain Sustainable Chemistry Technology and Innovation Platform has announced the winners for 2024, honouring four young researchers with the SusChem Young Researchers in Chemistry Awards for their scientific work and dedication in the field of chemistry and related disciplines. These awards are the public recognition of the scientific and dissemination work of talented young Spanish people in the field of chemistry.

The awards are organised by SusChem-España and promoted by the Spanish Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEIQUE), the National Association of Chemists and Chemical Engineers of Spain (ANQUE), the Spanish Conference of Chemistry Deans (CEDQ), the International Chemistry Forum Expoquimia, the Chemistry and Society Forum and TECNALIA Ventures, TECNALIA’s Deep Tech Venture Builder. These awards come with prizes worth a total of 10,000 euros.

Categories and winners

These awards are split into three categories; Future, Innovate and Research. The aim is to recognise the achievements of young researchers and inspire future generations to continue to contribute to sustainable development by advancing research and innovation in the field of chemistry in Spain.

• Future Category - Best Chemistry Graduate Record. Lourdes Patricia Sanmiguel received the award for the best academic record in a chemistry degree or any other related to science and chemical technologies (of those who graduated in 2023). She received 2,000 euros and a year’s membership of SusChem-Spain and ANQUE.

• Research Category - Best Scientific Doctoral Publication. The award for the author of the best scientific publication in 2023, in any area of chemistry, who had a doctorate in 2023 went to Jordi Soler (PhD in Chemistry from the University of Girona) and Jon Ander Onrubia (PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Basque Country). They were also awarded a prize of 3,000 euros and a year's membership of SusChem-Spain and ANQUE.

• Innovate Category - Best Public-Private Partnership. Ester López Fernández received the award for the best work developed from a public-private collaboration. She received a 5,000 euro cash prize, a year’s membership to SusChem-Spain and ANQUE, and access to an internship at the TECNALIA applied chemistry research laboratories, or mentoring by the TECNALIA Ventures team, to improve her skills in the field of technological entrepreneurship.

TECNALIA Ventures, part of the jury of experts

Jesús Torrecilla, Director of Ventures for Energy, Climate and Urban Transition at TECNALIA was part of this year's jury of experts, together with Cristina González (FEIQUE and SusChem-Spain), Francisco García Labiano (CSIC), Belén Télamos (CEDQ), Gabriel González (OEPM), Carmen Cartagena (ANQUE) and Beatriz Fernández (Expoquimia).