The jury has chosen the six laureates from among the 222 nominations submitted after three hours of deliberation in the Saló de Corts of the Palau de la Generalitat de Valencia.

This award recognizes the great contribution of the research group leader at ICIQ in the field of organic chemistry and catalysis.

Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren, senior group leader at ICIQ and scientific director of the Severo Ochoa Programme at the Institute, has been awarded with the prestigious Rei Jaume I Award in recognition of his innovative contributions to the field of chemistry. This recognition, widely regarded as one of the highest scientific honors in Spain, highlights the exceptional achievements and outstanding research work of Prof. Echavarren in the field of catalysis.

The Rei Jaume I Awards, established in 1989, aim to recognize individuals who have made significant advances in various scientific and technological disciplines. The recognition awarded to Prof. Echavarren highlights his work in the field of catalysis and his important contribution to the development of efficient synthetic methodologies, such as gold-catalyzed reactions, which have expanded knowledge in the field of organic chemistry. His innovative contributions have revolutionized the field, opening new possibilities for the synthesis of complex organic compounds and drugs.

“It is a great honor to receive the Rei Jaume I Award,” said Prof. Echavarren. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my research team, collaborators and colleagues who have supported me throughout my career. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of chemistry and its applications in society.”

A jury made up of nearly a hundred people, including twenty-one Nobel laureates

The decision of the jury, composed of nearly a hundred experts, including twenty-one Nobel laureates (four of them for the first time), was announced this Tuesday by the executive President of the Rei Jaume I Awards, Javier Quesada, during an event held at the Palau de la Generalitat and chaired by the acting President, Ximo Puig. A total of 222 nominations had been received, of which 53 were submitted by women, representing 24% of the total.

The winners are:

Antonio Echavarren Pablos, in the Basic Research category.

Olympia Bover Hidiroglu, in Economics.

Guillermina López-Bendito, in Medical Research.

Carlota Escutia Dotti, in Environmental Protection.

Daniel Maspoch Comamala, in New Technologies.

Alfonso Jiménez Rodríguez-Vila, in the Entrepreneur Award.

The awards ceremony, which will take place after the summer, is usually held at the Lonja de los Mercaderes in Valencia in the presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain. The event will serve as a platform to celebrate scientific excellence and inspire future generations of researchers to come up with innovative discoveries.

About Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren:

Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren is recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of catalysis, particularly in gold-catalyzed reactions. With an extensive internationally recognized career, Prof. Echavarren has received numerous awards, highlighting among others, the Janssen-Cylag Prize in Organic Chemistry (2004), the Gold Medal of the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry (RSEQ) (2010), the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award of the American Chemical Society (2015) and the recent Enrique Moles National Research Award (2022). In addition, he has obtained 2 ERC Advanced Grants, is a member of the editorial board of prestigious scientific journals, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, member of the European Academy and President of the RSEQ.

About the Rei Jaume I Awards:

Established in 1989, the Rei Jaume I Awards are a distinguished recognition given to exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions in various scientific and technological fields. The award aims to promote scientific research and innovation, while recognizing the achievements of outstanding individuals. They were founded in his day by the Valencian biochemist Santiago Grisolía to promote scientific research, environmental protection, economy and entrepreneurship and are each endowed with 100,000 euros. The Rei Jaume I Award is one of the highest honors in Spain and is a testament to the excellence, dedication and significant impact of the awardees on society.