Essen, Germany. Dutch chemist Prof. Dr. Bernard Lucas Feringa, recipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has been awarded the prestigious Evonik Friedrich Bergius Lecture Award. The chemicals company presented the honor on September 30 during its scientific forum Evonik meets Science in Heidelberg, Germany.
“With this award, we recognize individuals whose research is shaping the future of chemistry – and Ben Feringa does so in an outstanding way,” said Christian Eilbracht, new Chief Innovation Officer at Evonik. “His work on molecular machines, asymmetric catalysis, and photopharmacology is not only scientifically groundbreaking but also highly relevant for sustainable industrial applications.”
Feringa, a professor at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 alongside Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Jean-Pierre Sauvage. His research on the controlled movement of molecules has opened new avenues in nanotechnology and drug development. Feringa has also been a long-standing advocate for knowledge transfer between academia and industry – including collaborative projects with Evonik.
“I am deeply honored by this award,” said Ben Feringa during the ceremony. “Evonik is a company that actively seeks and fosters dialogue with the scientific community. Collaborating with industry is essential to translate scientific insights into tangible solutions for societal challenges.”
The Evonik Friedrich Bergius Lecture Award has been presented since 2014 to outstanding scientists whose research contributes to the advancement of chemistry. Named after Nobel laureate Friedrich Bergius, who worked for Th. Goldschmidt AG – a predecessor of Evonik – the award includes a lecture delivered at the Evonik meets Science forum. The aim is to promote exchange between academic research and industrial development.
“Innovation emerges where scientific excellence meets entrepreneurial curiosity,” emphasized Eilbracht. “With formats like the Bergius Lecture and Evonik meets Science, we create spaces for exactly this kind of exchange.”
