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Trade News  |  April 19, 2021

BASF celebrates the 20th anniversary of CCS-BASF Youth Innovation Prize

  • BASF fosters rising stars in China’s academia through project funding and CCS-BASF prize
  • 40 outstanding young Chinese scientists have been recognized since 2001
  • Four scientists were awarded this year for their chemical research excellence

 

Zhuhai, China – April 19, 2021 – BASF presented the 10th CCS-BASF Youth Innovation Prize to four Chinese scientists at the 32nd Chinese Chemical Society (CCS) Annual Congress in Zhuhai, acknowledging their outstanding achievements through discoveries in chemistry. Since the establishment of CCS-BASF Youth Innovation Prize in 2001, BASF has been committed to fostering rising stars in China’s chemistry academia through funding support. This year also marks the 20-year milestone of the award.

“Chemistry is a key enabler for a sustainable future, and innovation in chemistry is driven by talents, especially dedicated, high-caliber scientists,” Dr. Jeffrey Lou, President, Advanced Materials & Systems Research, BASF, “We are honored to partner with CCS and present the CCS-BASF Youth Innovation Prize for the last two decades. This award reinforces our commitment to recognizing and supporting young talents to achieve scientific excellence.”

Four awardees were selected by a committee, which is comprised of renowned Chinese scientists and evaluates candiates every two years. Prof. Hongzhi Cao from Shandong University, Prof. Ding Ma from Peking University, Prof. Junqi Sun from Jilin University, and Prof. Congyang Wang from Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) were recognized this year for their significant contributions in the respective fields.

·       Prof. Hongzhi Cao focused on sugar chemistry and developed enzymatic modular assembly strategies for providing universal solutions for the enzymatic synthesis of complex sugar chains.

·       Prof. Ding Ma made continuous breakthroughs in the design of metal catalysts with high efficiency for directional conversion of syngas and carbon dioxide, preparation and transportation of hydrogen, and selective activation of hydrocarbons.

·       Prof. Junqi Sun improved strength, developed functions, expanded applications, and made pioneering research results in the field of self-healing polymer materials.

·       Prof. Congyang Wang established a new system of manganese metal-organic catalysis to realize new green synthesis reactions and drove the development of manganese catalysis.

Since the award’s inception in 2001, BASF aims to encourage and fund outstanding Chinese young scientists in their innovative research areas, including petrochemicals, polymer materials, fine chemicals, surface and colloid chemistry, and bio-engineering. Over the past 20 years, more than 300 scientists have applied and awarded 40 outstanding young Chinese scientists. Among them, 7 have become academicians.

Chinese Chemical Society said, “China is accelerating the development of science and technology. Innovation can't be separated from talent cultivation. We are happy to collaborate with BASF for the past years and we value the strong commitment of BASF to scientific research talents in China.”

In addition to the CCS-BASF Youth Innovation Prize, BASF has established a Network for Asian Open Research (NAO), a joint platform formed by BASF and leading universities and institutes in the Asia Pacific since 2014. To date, BASF and its partners have completed more than 80 joint research projects. BASF is planning to drive potential scientific collaboration with the prize winners in the future and develop innovative products and solutions to support the economic growth and development of the chemical industry in China.

About BASF in Greater China

BASF has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885. With large production sites in Shanghai, Nanjing and Chongqing, as well as a global and regional research and development hub in Shanghai, BASF is a major foreign investor in the country’s chemical industry. BASF posted sales of approximately €8.5 billion in 2020 to customers in Greater China and employed 8,948 people as of the end of the year. For further information, please visit www.basf.com/cn/en.

 

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cunyu Ma
Mr. Cunyu Ma
Corporate Affairs Greater China
2021 CCS press photo_Group.jpg

Dr. Jeffrey Lou and Academician Xueming Yang award three young scientists at the 32nd CCS Annual Congress. From left to right: Xueming Yang, Hongzhi Cao, Ding Ma, Congyang Wang, Jeffrey Lou. Due to schedule conflict, Junqi Sun was not able to attend the ceremony.