Bert Weckhuysen has been awarded the Karl Wamsler Innovation Award 2024 in appreciation for his distinguished and groundbreaking work in the field of heterogeneous catalysis, and more specifically for visualizing solid catalysts in operando for the conversion of fossil and renewable feedstocks.

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the TUM Awards Dinner, Bert Weckhuysen received the honor from the president of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Professor Thomas Hofmann, in the presence of the daughter of Dr. Karl Wamsler, Susanne Wamsler. Earlier in the day Bert Weckhuysen has been part of the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award Symposium, where he has given a lecture. The laudatio was presented by Professor Jennifer Strunk, academic director of the TUM Catalysis Research Center (CRC).

The Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award, established in 2017 by TUM and Clariant, is a prestigious accolade recognizing significant achievements in catalysis, including bio-catalysis and white biotechnology. Named after Dr. Karl Wamsler, a key figure in the German chemical industry, the award promotes excellence in catalysis research and comes with a €50,000 prize. It honors researchers who have made substantial contributions to catalytic science, with past recipients including renowned scientists, like Matthias Beller for his outstanding innovations in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, Stephen L. Buchwald for his work in organic synthesis methods, and Veronique van Speybroeck for her advancements in nanoporous materials and their functional understanding through theory.

Pictures credit Astrid Eckert/TUM. Left, Professor Thomas Hofmann, President of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Middle, Professor Bert Weckhuysen, and Susanne Wamsler, daughter of Dr. Karl Wamsler.