François Jérôme is a catalysis specialist at the forefront of developments in sustainable chemistry, where using biomass is a strategic focus. His work is based on the use of physical agents (electric fields, shock waves, ultrasound waves) to trigger reactions that transform plant sugar into chemicals: surfactants, solvents, monomers, and more – and in doing so, avoids relying on chemical activation.

To accelerate the introduction of innovative products to the market, François Jérôme has been working with the Solvay Group since 2014, and also with SMEs such as ARD, the FCBA and Seprosys. As a sign of how robust the connection with Solvay is, since 2019, his team1 has been the “mirror site” for the international CNRS-Solvay Catalysis Laboratory, located in Shanghai (China). As he puts it, “To develop sustainable chemistry we must build strong links between scientists, the chemical industry and society”. To contribute to that, François Jérôme created the CNRS research federation “Increase” in 2015. It brings together eight laboratories and many manufacturers. François Jérôme also initiated the International Symposium on Green Chemistry, which has become an international conference of note.

Núria López’ research group focuses on atomistic simulations to understand the mechanisms that govern heterogeneous photo-electro-catalysis. The approaches have been extended to machine learning and analysis of large experimental datasets, as well as contributions to software development and data repositories.

Núria López graduated in Chemistry (1999) and got her Ph.D. degree in Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Barcelona, Spain (1995). She then joined the Center for Atomic-scale Materials Physics led by Prof. Jens K. Nørskov (Denmark Technical University) as a postdoctoral researcher before proceeding to start an independent career at ICIQ from 2005. Prof. López has co-authored over 200 scientific publications and received two grants from the European Research Council (ERC).

Grunwaldt's group's research areas range from preparation, testing to in-depth characterization of catalysts and electrocatalysts. Applications embrace emission control, chemical energy storage, power-to-X processes, the use of renewable resources, selective oxidation reactions, and fine chemistry using innovative solvents. Rational design using especially in situ & operando characterization and high-output testing are be combined.

Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt graduated in Chemistry (1993) at Hamburg University and got his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Technical Chemistry at the ETH Zürich, Switzerland (1998). He then joined Haldor Topsøe A/S in Denmark as a project manager for three years. From 2001 to 2007 he worked as lecturer and senior scientist at the Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich. before he became a full professor at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineeering, DTU, “The Haldor Topsøe Chair in Catalysis and Chemical Engineering”, Denmark for two years. Since 2010 he has been a full professor and director at the Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry, Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany.

Grunwaldt has received several awards, among them Dale Sayers Award of the International XAFS Society (IXS) (2006) and he became Karl-Winnacker-Stipendiat awarded by the Aventis Foundation in recognition of the scientific achievements in supercritical fluids, in situ characterization and exhaust gas catalysis, Frankfurt (2007).