Clariant has celebrated a major milestone in its long-standing commitment to sustainable chemistry, marking the 10th anniversaries of both the TUM Catalysis Research Center (CRC) and the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award for Catalysis Research.
The ceremony recognized two world-renowned scientists whose discoveries are helping shape the future of catalysis and sustainable chemical innovation.
Clariant CEO Conrad Keijzer highlighted the importance of the partnership with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), emphasizing its role in driving breakthroughs and nurturing scientific talent.
“Reaching the 10th anniversary of both the TUM Catalysis Research Center and the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award is a truly proud moment for everyone at Clariant. This partnership is far more than a sponsorship — for us, the collaboration with TUM and the Catalysis Research Center forms the basis for numerous innovations and for attracting exceptional young talents.”
The Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award was created to honor the legacy of Dr. Karl Wamsler, a leading figure in post-war German chemistry and former board member, CEO, and Chairman of Süd-Chemie. Awarded the title of Honorary Senator by TUM in 2015, Dr. Wamsler believed strongly in the transformative power of knowledge and scientific discovery.
Since 2017, Clariant has supported the award with an annual investment of €50,000, reinforcing its commitment to advancing both fundamental and applied research in catalysis.
The 2025 Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award was presented to Professor Tao Zhang, Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics.
Professor Zhang was honored “for his pioneering research on single-atom catalysis” — a breakthrough concept he introduced in 2011 that has since reshaped the global catalysis landscape. His contributions were further recognized in 2025 with the Clarivate Citation Laureate distinction.
The 2026 Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award was awarded to Professor Frances H. Arnold of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Professor Arnold was recognized “for her groundbreaking contributions to the field of biocatalysis”, following her pioneering work on the directed evolution of enzymes — a revolutionary approach that enables scientists to design proteins with new and highly efficient functions.
The milestone celebration also underscored the strength of Clariant’s partnership with TUM. The Clariant Foundation recently signed a three-year contract extension with the university, continuing a collaboration that began in 2010 through the MuniCat initiative.
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