Clariant and the Technical University of Munich, TUM, celebrated a double anniversary related to catalysis research. The ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the TUM Catalysis Research Center and the 10th anniversary of the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award for catalysis research. The event also provided an opportunity to honour two scientists whose achievements, according to the organisers, are having a significant impact on the development of catalysis and sustainable chemistry. Clariant also announced the extension of its cooperation with TUM for another three years. As Clariant CEO Conrad Keijzer emphasised, "reaching the 10th anniversary of both the TUM Catalysis Research Center and the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award is a proud moment for everyone at Clariant. This partnership is far more than 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 company notes that the current agreement builds on long-term relations developed since 2010 under the MuniCat initiative.
The Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award was established to commemorate Dr. Karl Wamsler, a figure associated with post-war German chemistry and former board member, CEO and chairman of the supervisory board of Süd-Chemie. In 2015, he received the title of Honorary Senator from TUM. As recalled in the release, he was convinced that knowledge has the power to change the world. Since 2017, Clariant has funded the award, allocating EUR 50,000 annually for this purpose. According to the company, this confirms its commitment to supporting fundamental and applied research in catalysis.
Laureates of the 2025 and 2026 awards
The recipient of the Dr. Karl Wamsler Innovation Award for 2025 was Professor Tao Zhang, Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics. The release states that he was honoured "for his pioneering research on single-atom catalysis", a concept introduced by him in 2011 that has since significantly influenced the development of the field. It was also added that his achievements were globally recognised in 2025 with the Clarivate Citation Laureate distinction.
The 2026 award was presented to Professor Frances H. Arnold of the California Institute of Technology, Caltech, winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She was recognised "for her groundbreaking contributions to the field of biocatalysis", including pioneering work on the directed evolution of enzymes. This approach enables the engineering of proteins with entirely new and highly efficient functions.
Extension of the cooperation
The Clariant Foundation recently signed an extension with TUM, prolonging the cooperation for another three years. As stated, the relationship between the two parties has continued since 2010 and began under the MuniCat initiative. The continuation of the partnership was announced on the occasion of the anniversary of the research centre and the award.
From left: Susanne Wamsler (member of Clariant's board of directors), Professor Tao Zhang (2025 award winner), Professor Frances H. Arnold (2026 award winner), Conrad Keijzer (Clariant CEO), Professor Thomas Hofmann (TUM president). Photo: Clariant
