21.11.2025
Behind The Publication: A feasible methanol economy for a green future
Abhinandan Nabera and Hidde Kolmeijer discussing the results of the team's methanol economy study.
In a recent publication, NCCR Catalysis researchers highlight methanol’s potential to transform the economy towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Learn more about the work in this Behind The Publication feature!
What is the methanol economy, and what is the motivation of this work?
The methanol economy, first proposed by Nobel laureate George Olah, envisions using methanol as a clean and versatile alternative to fossil feedstocks such as gasoline, natural gas, and naphtha, which are used today to produce fuels and chemicals. Methanol can not only power vehicles, ships, and planes, but also serve as a key building block for producing a wide range of chemicals. Crucially, it can be synthesized from renewable sources such as biomass, biogas, or even captured CO2 from the air. This NCCR Catalysis study expands on Olah’s vision by providing the first quantitative assessment of a methanol‑based economy by 2050, identifying the most effective pathways to realize it. The goal is to clarify the true environmental and economic potential of methanol as a foundation for a sustainable society.
Overview of the proposed methanol economy. Methanol produced from fossil or renewable sources can be used across several sectors. It serves as a chemical feedstock and as a fuel for road transport and shipping, and can also be converted into jet fuel through the methanol-to-kerosene process for use in aviation.
Which was the main challenge? How did you address it?
The main challenge was to move beyond the community’s qualitative optimism about the methanol economy and develop a rigorous, quantitative assessment under realistic future conditions spanning entire sectors of the economy, such as fuels for transport and chemicals. Achieving this required several years of work, as we integrated previously developed partial models into a comprehensive 2050 framework that links methanol production and use pathways with prospective life-cycle assessment and techno‑economic analyses. This allowed us to evaluate numerous configurations, consider different renewable carbon sources, account for the limited availability of bio‑based feedstocks, and compare all options on a consistent basis.
What are the study’s main results and take-home messages?
The formal aspects of the analysis may be complex, but the results are clear. A methanol economy could significantly cut global greenhouse gas emissions while remaining broadly affordable by 2050. Specifically, producing methanol from biomass and biogas can reach net‑zero or even negative emissions, though these resources alone are insufficient to meet the projected methanol demand. By combining these bio‑based routes with CO2 hydrogenation technologies, a fully renewable pathway emerges; one capable of net‑zero emissions at an estimated cost of about US$ 32 per person per month. This is comparable to other 2°C scenarios under the Paris Agreement, or, put more simply, to the price of a subscription to a good-quality streaming service. We could also identify the order in which implementation would be more beneficial: rapid adoption in road transport and chemicals, followed by aviation and shipping. One key takeaway is the importance of continued investment in CO2 hydrogenation technologies to ensure they reach commercial maturity.
Key findings of the evaluated methanol economy scenarios. The analysis identifies two viable pathways, both reliant on biomass and biogas feedstocks due to their comparatively low costs and substantial CO2 emission reductions. In the bio + CO2 scenario, the methanol economy achieves net-zero emissions at an estimated cost of US$ 32 per capita per month. Alternatively, a fossil-based pathway remains feasible at approximately half the cost, albeit with higher residual emissions.
What makes this work particularly relevant for NCCR Catalysis and the research community?
The study demonstrates that CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is essential to overcoming the limited supply of sustainable biomass and biogas, enabling a fully renewable methanol economy with net‑zero greenhouse gas emissions. This directly aligns with the NCCR Catalysis vision of sustainable, carbon‑neutral value chains, in which the development of advanced catalytic systems for CO2 conversion is a central pillar. Our findings also show that the methanol economy is a practical pathway to meet global climate commitments. We hope these results will energize the scientific community and encourage dialogue among researchers, industrialists, and policymakers toward their real-world implementation.
Publication details:
A feasible methanol economy for a green future. H. Kolmeijer, A. Nabera, A.J. Martín, G. Guillén-Gosálbez, J. Pérez-Ramírez. Green Chem. 2025. DOI: 10.1039/d5gc04615g.
In a recent publication, NCCR Catalysis researchers highlight methanol’s potential to transform the economy towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Learn more about the work in this Behind The Publication feature!
What is the methanol economy, and what is the motivation of this work?
The methanol economy, first proposed by Nobel laureate George Olah, envisions using methanol as a clean and versatile alternative to fossil feedstocks such as gasoline, natural gas, and naphtha, which are used today to produce fuels and chemicals. Methanol can not only power vehicles, ships, and planes, but also serve as a key building block for producing a wide range of chemicals. Crucially, it can be synthesized from renewable sources such as biomass, biogas, or even captured CO2 from the air. This NCCR Catalysis study expands on Olah’s vision by providing the first quantitative assessment of a methanol‑based economy by 2050, identifying the most effective pathways to realize it. The goal is to clarify the true environmental and economic potential of methanol as a foundation for a sustainable society.
Overview of the proposed methanol economy. Methanol produced from fossil or renewable sources can be used across several sectors. It serves as a chemical feedstock and as a fuel for road transport and shipping, and can also be converted into jet fuel through the methanol-to-kerosene process for use in aviation.
Which was the main challenge? How did you address it?
The main challenge was to move beyond the community’s qualitative optimism about the methanol economy and develop a rigorous, quantitative assessment under realistic future conditions spanning entire sectors of the economy, such as fuels for transport and chemicals. Achieving this required several years of work, as we integrated previously developed partial models into a comprehensive 2050 framework that links methanol production and use pathways with prospective life-cycle assessment and techno‑economic analyses. This allowed us to evaluate numerous configurations, consider different renewable carbon sources, account for the limited availability of bio‑based feedstocks, and compare all options on a consistent basis.
What are the study’s main results and take-home messages?
The formal aspects of the analysis may be complex, but the results are clear. A methanol economy could significantly cut global greenhouse gas emissions while remaining broadly affordable by 2050. Specifically, producing methanol from biomass and biogas can reach net‑zero or even negative emissions, though these resources alone are insufficient to meet the projected methanol demand. By combining these bio‑based routes with CO2 hydrogenation technologies, a fully renewable pathway emerges; one capable of net‑zero emissions at an estimated cost of about US$ 32 per person per month. This is comparable to other 2°C scenarios under the Paris Agreement, or, put more simply, to the price of a subscription to a good-quality streaming service. We could also identify the order in which implementation would be more beneficial: rapid adoption in road transport and chemicals, followed by aviation and shipping. One key takeaway is the importance of continued investment in CO2 hydrogenation technologies to ensure they reach commercial maturity.
Key findings of the evaluated methanol economy scenarios. The analysis identifies two viable pathways, both reliant on biomass and biogas feedstocks due to their comparatively low costs and substantial CO2 emission reductions. In the bio + CO2 scenario, the methanol economy achieves net-zero emissions at an estimated cost of US$ 32 per capita per month. Alternatively, a fossil-based pathway remains feasible at approximately half the cost, albeit with higher residual emissions.
What makes this work particularly relevant for NCCR Catalysis and the research community?
The study demonstrates that CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is essential to overcoming the limited supply of sustainable biomass and biogas, enabling a fully renewable methanol economy with net‑zero greenhouse gas emissions. This directly aligns with the NCCR Catalysis vision of sustainable, carbon‑neutral value chains, in which the development of advanced catalytic systems for CO2 conversion is a central pillar. Our findings also show that the methanol economy is a practical pathway to meet global climate commitments. We hope these results will energize the scientific community and encourage dialogue among researchers, industrialists, and policymakers toward their real-world implementation.
Publication details:
A feasible methanol economy for a green future. H. Kolmeijer, A. Nabera, A.J. Martín, G. Guillén-Gosálbez, J. Pérez-Ramírez. Green Chem. 2025. DOI: 10.1039/d5gc04615g.
11.8.2025
Recipients of 2025 Young Talents Fellowship
We’re excited to announce the five recipients of our 2025 Young Talents Fellowship, who will begin their Master’s theses within our member groups in 2026. Congratulations and welcome to our network, Hanna, Mark, Anna-Maria, Neel, and Laurine!
Hanna Barta, from Hungary, studies Chemistry at the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, and will join Prof. Jieping Zhu’s group at EPFL.
Mark Soesanto, from Indonesia, studies Chemistry at ETH Zurich, where he will join the group of Prof. Erick M. Carreira.
Anna-Maria Ceccucci, from Italy, studies Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at EPFL, and will join the groups of Prof. Kathrin Fenner at the University of Zurich/Eawag and Prof. Jeremy Luterbacher at EPFL.
Sharma Neel Omprakash, from India, studies Chemistry at the S.V. National Institute of Technology, India, and will join Prof. Rebecca Buller’s group at the University of Bern.
Laurine Palluaud, from France, studies Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the National Graduate School of Chemistry of Montpellier, France, and will join Prof. Jérôme Waser’s group at EPFL.
The Young Talents Fellowship supports students with an exceptional academic record and potential, and diverse backgrounds. It provides them with the opportunity to conduct a Master’s thesis project in one or several research groups associated with NCCR Catalysis, and to establish their connections and ideas in a multidisciplinary, cross-fertilizing environment of research excellence. The first edition of this initiative to promote fair representation in sustainable chemistry research was launched in 2022.
Hanna Barta, from Hungary, studies Chemistry at the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, and will join Prof. Jieping Zhu’s group at EPFL.
Mark Soesanto, from Indonesia, studies Chemistry at ETH Zurich, where he will join the group of Prof. Erick M. Carreira.
Anna-Maria Ceccucci, from Italy, studies Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at EPFL, and will join the groups of Prof. Kathrin Fenner at the University of Zurich/Eawag and Prof. Jeremy Luterbacher at EPFL.
Sharma Neel Omprakash, from India, studies Chemistry at the S.V. National Institute of Technology, India, and will join Prof. Rebecca Buller’s group at the University of Bern.
Laurine Palluaud, from France, studies Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the National Graduate School of Chemistry of Montpellier, France, and will join Prof. Jérôme Waser’s group at EPFL.
The Young Talents Fellowship supports students with an exceptional academic record and potential, and diverse backgrounds. It provides them with the opportunity to conduct a Master’s thesis project in one or several research groups associated with NCCR Catalysis, and to establish their connections and ideas in a multidisciplinary, cross-fertilizing environment of research excellence. The first edition of this initiative to promote fair representation in sustainable chemistry research was launched in 2022.
1.7.2025
New study reveals hidden diversity in single-atom catalysts
An international collaboration led by NCCR Catalysis groups has demonstrated, for the first time, that not all single atoms in single-atom catalysts are alike. Researchers from ETH Zurich, CRMN Lyon, and Aarhus University applied solid-state platinum NMR spectroscopy to distinguish the distinct local environments of platinum atoms dispersed on various supports.
The study reveals that materials that appear identical by transmission electron microscopy can exhibit a range of coordination environments at the atomic level, with direct implications for their catalytic performance. The researchers further demonstrated how different synthesis protocols and supports influence the nature and evolution of active sites during catalyst evaluation, offering new insights into catalyst stability.
This advance was made possible through close collaboration across institutions and disciplines, combining synthesis, advanced spectroscopy, and theory. The findings mark a major step toward atomic-scale understanding and precision design in heterogeneous catalysis.
In the video, NCCR Catalysis members, including Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Prof. Christophe Copéret, Dr. Sharon Mitchell, Dr. Alexander Yakimov, Marc-Eduard Usteri (ETH Zurich), and Dr. Jonas Koppe (CRMN Lyon), share their perspectives on this exciting breakthrough in the description of single-atom catalysts.
The study reveals that materials that appear identical by transmission electron microscopy can exhibit a range of coordination environments at the atomic level, with direct implications for their catalytic performance. The researchers further demonstrated how different synthesis protocols and supports influence the nature and evolution of active sites during catalyst evaluation, offering new insights into catalyst stability.
This advance was made possible through close collaboration across institutions and disciplines, combining synthesis, advanced spectroscopy, and theory. The findings mark a major step toward atomic-scale understanding and precision design in heterogeneous catalysis.
In the video, NCCR Catalysis members, including Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Prof. Christophe Copéret, Dr. Sharon Mitchell, Dr. Alexander Yakimov, Marc-Eduard Usteri (ETH Zurich), and Dr. Jonas Koppe (CRMN Lyon), share their perspectives on this exciting breakthrough in the description of single-atom catalysts.
22.1.2025
2025 IUPAC-Zhejiang NHU International Award for Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez
The IUPAC-Zhejiang NHU International Award for Advancements in Green Chemistry, presented biannually at the IUPAC World Chemistry Congress (WCC), honors one established and three early-career scientists in the chemical sciences for their efforts in advancing green chemistry. Prof. Pérez-Ramírez’s recognition centers on his groundbreaking contributions to transforming the landscape of sustainable chemical and energy production. His achievements include the design of a novel catalyst for green methanol synthesis now piloted in industry, the introduction of novel catalysts for CO2 conversion to long-chain hydrocarbons, and pioneering concepts for decentralized ammonia production.
Many of these breakthroughs were achieved within the collaborative framework of NCCR Catalysis, which has also advanced the adoption of digital tools to accelerate catalyst discovery. By integrating sustainability metrics and life-cycle assessments into chemical process design, his work exemplifies the perfect synergy between cutting-edge innovation and environmental responsibility. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition of your innovative and sustainability-guided contributions to the field, Javier!
Javier will receive the award and deliver a lecture at the 50WCC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July 2025.
Many of these breakthroughs were achieved within the collaborative framework of NCCR Catalysis, which has also advanced the adoption of digital tools to accelerate catalyst discovery. By integrating sustainability metrics and life-cycle assessments into chemical process design, his work exemplifies the perfect synergy between cutting-edge innovation and environmental responsibility. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition of your innovative and sustainability-guided contributions to the field, Javier!
Javier will receive the award and deliver a lecture at the 50WCC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July 2025.
1.10.2024
Behind The Publication: Assessing transport phenomena in chemical plastic recycling
Shibashish Jaydev after successfully defending his PhD work at ETH Hönggerberg in September 2024.
In a recent publication, NCCR Catalysis researchers and colleagues highlight the importance of transport phenomena in chemical recycling of polyolefins and derive a metric for catalyst performance evaluation. Learn more about the work from Shibashish Jaydev in this Behind The Publication feature!
Could you tell us about yourself and the way toward this project?
I started at ETH Zurich as a Master’s student in 2018 and then decided to stay for a PhD. I had the pleasure of working on a variety of scientific topics, such as multiphase flows, microfabrication, cytometry and image processing. The common aspect of my student career was that I always wanted to try something new.
At some point, I felt I should come back to my core competence in chemical reaction engineering and approached Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez for a PhD position on the topic of chemical recycling of plastics. We decided to tackle polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene, comprising around 60% of all plastic waste), using an emerging route called hydrogenolysis, where hydrogen is also a reactant. After initially working on nanoscale catalyst design, we decided to shift our focus to the reactor scale due to the practical nature of the chemical recycling problem. With increasing scale, we realized that the reaction was heat and mass transfer limited, thereby hindering us from realizing the full potential of our catalysts. This led to the conception of this project to assess the influence of transport processes on catalyst effectiveness, which we could pursue thanks to an ETH Grant.
Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Shibashish Jaydev and Dr. Antonio José Martín Fernández from the aCe group at ETH Hönggerberg in September 2024.
What are the motivation and main results of this project?
In spite of designing and evaluating catalysts that showed great promise, we were convinced to be limited by factors at the reactor scale. The batch reaction we investigated involves three distinct phases, and can only take place when the hydrogen, the catalyst particles and the plastic molecules come together. This means the reaction had to be limited by transport processes, particularly mass transfer, owing to the high viscosity of the plastic melt. An easy way to show this was the changing catalytic performance with the stirring rate. As every research group working in this field uses a different setup, a different stirrer, there was no real way of assessing the extent to which external factors impacted the intrinsic catalyst performance. In this work, we present a means by which this can be done rather easily, independent of the setup or the catalysts.
Which was the main challenge? How did you address it?
Transport processes within a batch reactor system in plastic recycling could be influenced by a multitude of factors - viscosity, stirring speed, vessel dimensions, density and the extent of interfacial contact between the phases. The biggest challenge was to combine these factors into a single equation and present it in an accessible manner for other researchers. We addressed this by looking into possible dimensionless numbers that could help us account for all the factors at once. We thus arrived at a reinterpretation of the well-known power number, something other practitioners could also employ in their own research.
Shibashish Jaydev next to the parallel pressure reactor setup used in the study.
What impact did the ETH Grant have on this work?
As the ETH grant is awarded to high-risk, high-reward projects, the chemical recycling project was a perfect candidate. It provided us with the financial freedom to take risks in terms of exploring and pursuing radically innovative ideas in the initial phases of the project. We were able to expand the scope of our research in catalyst design and explore this reaction thanks to the support provided by the ETH grant.The solid foundation we could lay down owing to the ETH grant culminated in this project which, as a precursor, required access to superior catalysts, a sophisticated setup and other state-of-the-art technologies made possible through the grant.
What is your view on the integration of chemical recycling of plastics in Phase II of NCCR Catalysis?
The project, after its successful run so far, is now at a juncture where it requires multi-domain expertise and collaboration. It has now matured enough to need the involvement of more than one research group - material scientists to study rheology, chemists for operando studies, process and systems engineers for techno-economic studies and also social scientists for macro-level study of the plastic waste problem. I believe NCCR Catalysis offers this collaborative platform to exchange ideas and effectively tackle this multifaceted challenge. Besides, the platform also offers greater visibility to this research topic, inviting broader interests.
Polyolefins - among them polypropylene, which can be made into bottle caps - account for 60% of all plastic waste. © Shibashish Jaydev
What are your future, post-graduation plans?
Right after my PhD, I will start as an R&D Engineer in the chemical process development industry. Since my core interest lies in chemical engineering, I wish to continue working on the design of processes and reactors. I will, however, look to expand my knowledge in the direction of life cycle assessments and economic aspects of chemical processes. A long-term priority for me would be to maintain a solid work-life balance with a lot of sports and spending more time in the mountains.
Publication details:
Assessment of transport phenomena in catalyst effectiveness for chemical polyolefin recycling. S.D. Jaydev, A.J. Martín, D. Garcia, K. Chikri, J. Pérez-Ramírez. Nat. Chem. Eng. 2024, 1, 565. DOI: 10.1038/s44286-024-00108-3.
In a recent publication, NCCR Catalysis researchers and colleagues highlight the importance of transport phenomena in chemical recycling of polyolefins and derive a metric for catalyst performance evaluation. Learn more about the work from Shibashish Jaydev in this Behind The Publication feature!
Could you tell us about yourself and the way toward this project?
I started at ETH Zurich as a Master’s student in 2018 and then decided to stay for a PhD. I had the pleasure of working on a variety of scientific topics, such as multiphase flows, microfabrication, cytometry and image processing. The common aspect of my student career was that I always wanted to try something new.
At some point, I felt I should come back to my core competence in chemical reaction engineering and approached Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez for a PhD position on the topic of chemical recycling of plastics. We decided to tackle polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene, comprising around 60% of all plastic waste), using an emerging route called hydrogenolysis, where hydrogen is also a reactant. After initially working on nanoscale catalyst design, we decided to shift our focus to the reactor scale due to the practical nature of the chemical recycling problem. With increasing scale, we realized that the reaction was heat and mass transfer limited, thereby hindering us from realizing the full potential of our catalysts. This led to the conception of this project to assess the influence of transport processes on catalyst effectiveness, which we could pursue thanks to an ETH Grant.
Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Shibashish Jaydev and Dr. Antonio José Martín Fernández from the aCe group at ETH Hönggerberg in September 2024.
What are the motivation and main results of this project?
In spite of designing and evaluating catalysts that showed great promise, we were convinced to be limited by factors at the reactor scale. The batch reaction we investigated involves three distinct phases, and can only take place when the hydrogen, the catalyst particles and the plastic molecules come together. This means the reaction had to be limited by transport processes, particularly mass transfer, owing to the high viscosity of the plastic melt. An easy way to show this was the changing catalytic performance with the stirring rate. As every research group working in this field uses a different setup, a different stirrer, there was no real way of assessing the extent to which external factors impacted the intrinsic catalyst performance. In this work, we present a means by which this can be done rather easily, independent of the setup or the catalysts.
Which was the main challenge? How did you address it?
Transport processes within a batch reactor system in plastic recycling could be influenced by a multitude of factors - viscosity, stirring speed, vessel dimensions, density and the extent of interfacial contact between the phases. The biggest challenge was to combine these factors into a single equation and present it in an accessible manner for other researchers. We addressed this by looking into possible dimensionless numbers that could help us account for all the factors at once. We thus arrived at a reinterpretation of the well-known power number, something other practitioners could also employ in their own research.
Shibashish Jaydev next to the parallel pressure reactor setup used in the study.
What impact did the ETH Grant have on this work?
As the ETH grant is awarded to high-risk, high-reward projects, the chemical recycling project was a perfect candidate. It provided us with the financial freedom to take risks in terms of exploring and pursuing radically innovative ideas in the initial phases of the project. We were able to expand the scope of our research in catalyst design and explore this reaction thanks to the support provided by the ETH grant.The solid foundation we could lay down owing to the ETH grant culminated in this project which, as a precursor, required access to superior catalysts, a sophisticated setup and other state-of-the-art technologies made possible through the grant.
What is your view on the integration of chemical recycling of plastics in Phase II of NCCR Catalysis?
The project, after its successful run so far, is now at a juncture where it requires multi-domain expertise and collaboration. It has now matured enough to need the involvement of more than one research group - material scientists to study rheology, chemists for operando studies, process and systems engineers for techno-economic studies and also social scientists for macro-level study of the plastic waste problem. I believe NCCR Catalysis offers this collaborative platform to exchange ideas and effectively tackle this multifaceted challenge. Besides, the platform also offers greater visibility to this research topic, inviting broader interests.
Polyolefins - among them polypropylene, which can be made into bottle caps - account for 60% of all plastic waste. © Shibashish Jaydev
What are your future, post-graduation plans?
Right after my PhD, I will start as an R&D Engineer in the chemical process development industry. Since my core interest lies in chemical engineering, I wish to continue working on the design of processes and reactors. I will, however, look to expand my knowledge in the direction of life cycle assessments and economic aspects of chemical processes. A long-term priority for me would be to maintain a solid work-life balance with a lot of sports and spending more time in the mountains.
Publication details:
Assessment of transport phenomena in catalyst effectiveness for chemical polyolefin recycling. S.D. Jaydev, A.J. Martín, D. Garcia, K. Chikri, J. Pérez-Ramírez. Nat. Chem. Eng. 2024, 1, 565. DOI: 10.1038/s44286-024-00108-3.
11.9.2024
Official launch of Phase II
On 11 September 2024, we officially launched our program's second funding phase (2024-2028) at Welle7 in Bern with our PIs and group delegates! The meeting served to initiate discussions on our grand research and structure-related challenges and to strengthen collaborations.
We started with input on and insights into program operations and gender balance, plans for higher educational programs, and our network-wide data strategy.
We then enjoyed interactive sessions prepared by our WP Coordinators and colleagues on the standardization of methodologies, strategies for bridging activities in renewable platforms and complex molecules, long-term stability challenges and opportunities in catalysis, and ways to leverage data within our program. We wrapped the meeting up with perspectives on the definition and integration of sustainability and plans for strategic partnerships and the upcoming months.
We started with input on and insights into program operations and gender balance, plans for higher educational programs, and our network-wide data strategy.
We then enjoyed interactive sessions prepared by our WP Coordinators and colleagues on the standardization of methodologies, strategies for bridging activities in renewable platforms and complex molecules, long-term stability challenges and opportunities in catalysis, and ways to leverage data within our program. We wrapped the meeting up with perspectives on the definition and integration of sustainability and plans for strategic partnerships and the upcoming months.
3.9.2024
Strengthening Swiss-Singaporean exchanges on sustainable chemistry research
Group photo of the ETH Zurich-NUS CHI meeting participants taken at NUS on 3 September 2024.
In a recent visit to the National University of Singapore (NUS), delegates from ETH Zurich met with members of the Centre for Hydrogen Innovations (CHI) for a symposium on Replacing Fuels by Chemistry. The symposium was held to strengthen Swiss-Singaporean exchanges in this area, in particular between NCCR Catalysis and NUS-CHI.
Panel discussion at the NUS CHI-ETH Zurich symposium with ETH Zurich professors Victor Mougel, Christophe Copéret, Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez and Christoph Müller.
The ETH Zurich delegation included NCCR Catalysis members Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez (Program Director), Dr. Sharon Mitchell (Program Advisor), Prof. Christophe Copéret (co-coordinator of WP3 Advanced tools), Prof. Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez (co-coordinator of WP5 Sustainability), and Prof. Christoph Müller (Principal Investigator), and Prof. Victor Mougel.
Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez with NUS hosts professors Dan Zhao (CHI), Ning Yan (CHI Program Director) and Jason Yeo.
As Program Directors of CHI and NCCR Catalysis, respectively, Prof. Ning Yan and Prof. Javier Peréz-Ramírez gave welcoming addresses to kick off the meeting.
The ETH Zurich delegation contributed talks on:
Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez: Catalysis and Sustainability: A Journey from Atom to Planet
Prof. Christophe Copéret: Preparation and Characterisation of Heterogeneous Catalysts, One Atom at a Time
Prof. Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez: Sustainability Metrics for Chemicals Within Planetary Boundaries
Prof. Christoph Müller: CO2 Capture and Thermocatalytic CO2 Conversion: Model Materials and Their Characterisation
Prof. Victor Mougel: Bio-Inspired Strategies for the Design of Electrocatalysts for Small Molecule Activation
They also contributed to a panel discussion on the role of science, education and policy in decarbonizing the chemical industry.
In addition to the symposium, the visit also included sightseeing and meeting with NUS students, and exchanges with the Singapore-ETH Centre. We thank the delegation’s hosts for their warm welcome and look forward to further fruitful exchanges!
Members of the ETH Zurich delegation with their hosts, visiting the Gardens by the Bay with NUS students and the National Orchid Garden Singapore Botanic Gardens.
In a recent visit to the National University of Singapore (NUS), delegates from ETH Zurich met with members of the Centre for Hydrogen Innovations (CHI) for a symposium on Replacing Fuels by Chemistry. The symposium was held to strengthen Swiss-Singaporean exchanges in this area, in particular between NCCR Catalysis and NUS-CHI.
Panel discussion at the NUS CHI-ETH Zurich symposium with ETH Zurich professors Victor Mougel, Christophe Copéret, Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez and Christoph Müller.
The ETH Zurich delegation included NCCR Catalysis members Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez (Program Director), Dr. Sharon Mitchell (Program Advisor), Prof. Christophe Copéret (co-coordinator of WP3 Advanced tools), Prof. Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez (co-coordinator of WP5 Sustainability), and Prof. Christoph Müller (Principal Investigator), and Prof. Victor Mougel.
Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez with NUS hosts professors Dan Zhao (CHI), Ning Yan (CHI Program Director) and Jason Yeo.
As Program Directors of CHI and NCCR Catalysis, respectively, Prof. Ning Yan and Prof. Javier Peréz-Ramírez gave welcoming addresses to kick off the meeting.
The ETH Zurich delegation contributed talks on:
Prof. Javier Pérez-Ramírez: Catalysis and Sustainability: A Journey from Atom to Planet
Prof. Christophe Copéret: Preparation and Characterisation of Heterogeneous Catalysts, One Atom at a Time
Prof. Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez: Sustainability Metrics for Chemicals Within Planetary Boundaries
Prof. Christoph Müller: CO2 Capture and Thermocatalytic CO2 Conversion: Model Materials and Their Characterisation
Prof. Victor Mougel: Bio-Inspired Strategies for the Design of Electrocatalysts for Small Molecule Activation
They also contributed to a panel discussion on the role of science, education and policy in decarbonizing the chemical industry.
In addition to the symposium, the visit also included sightseeing and meeting with NUS students, and exchanges with the Singapore-ETH Centre. We thank the delegation’s hosts for their warm welcome and look forward to further fruitful exchanges!
Members of the ETH Zurich delegation with their hosts, visiting the Gardens by the Bay with NUS students and the National Orchid Garden Singapore Botanic Gardens.
16.7.2024
Recipients of 2024 Young Talents Fellowship
We’re excited to announce the four recipients of our 2024 Young Talents Fellowship, who will begin their Master’s theses within our member groups in 2024 and 2025. Congratulations and welcome to our network, Aline, Shaipranesh, Nadiia, and Julia!
Aline Hartgers, from Belgium, studies Mathematical Engineering at KU Leuven, and will join Prof. Kjell Jorner’s group at ETH Zürich.
Shaipranesh Senthilkumar, from India, studies Computer Science & Chemistry at BITS Pilani and will join Prof. Philippe Schwaller’s group at EPFL.
Nadiia Vorontsova, from Ukraine, studies Chemistry at the University of Geneva, where she will join Prof. Ross Milton's group.
Julia Ravagnani, from Italy and France, studies Sustainable Chemical Engineering at EPFL and will join Prof. Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez's group at ETH Zurich.
The Young Talents Fellowship supports students with exceptional academic records and diverse backgrounds. It provides them with the opportunity to conduct a Master’s thesis project in a research group associated with NCCR Catalysis and establish their connections and ideas in a multidisciplinary, cross-fertilizing environment of research excellence. This initiative to promote fair representation in catalysis research was launched in 2022.
Aline Hartgers, from Belgium, studies Mathematical Engineering at KU Leuven, and will join Prof. Kjell Jorner’s group at ETH Zürich.
Shaipranesh Senthilkumar, from India, studies Computer Science & Chemistry at BITS Pilani and will join Prof. Philippe Schwaller’s group at EPFL.
Nadiia Vorontsova, from Ukraine, studies Chemistry at the University of Geneva, where she will join Prof. Ross Milton's group.
Julia Ravagnani, from Italy and France, studies Sustainable Chemical Engineering at EPFL and will join Prof. Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez's group at ETH Zurich.
The Young Talents Fellowship supports students with exceptional academic records and diverse backgrounds. It provides them with the opportunity to conduct a Master’s thesis project in a research group associated with NCCR Catalysis and establish their connections and ideas in a multidisciplinary, cross-fertilizing environment of research excellence. This initiative to promote fair representation in catalysis research was launched in 2022.