The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) and BASF Group have launched the call for the fifth edition of the BASF-ICIQ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards. These awards aim to recognize and reward the talent of individuals driving innovative scientific projects and entrepreneurial initiatives in the field of chemistry in Spain and Portugal.
Awards for Doctoral Theses, Patents, and Outstanding Entrepreneurs
This year’s edition will feature three main categories:
Best Doctoral Thesis Award (€2,500): Recognizes outstanding doctoral theses in applied sciences or solutions to industrial challenges within the field of chemistry. To be eligible, candidates must have publicly defended their thesis at a Spanish or Portuguese university within the last three years and must have published at least one relevant scientific article derived from their thesis.
Best Patent Award (€2,500): This award will recognize significant scientific and technological advancements that have demonstrated knowledge transfer activities and are patented in the Iberian Peninsula. To be eligible, patents must focus on a specific technological area and must have been published and filed within the last 10 years (for public research organizations and universities) or within the last 5 years (for company patents).
Best Entrepreneurship Project Award (€4,000): Recognizes business initiatives in the fields of chemistry and technology that stand out for their ability to transform innovative ideas into scalable commercial solutions.
These awards aim to give visibility to projects that make a difference while fostering the development of new technological solutions that contribute to social progress and sustainable development.
Boosting Talent and Scientific Collaboration
Prof. Emilio Palomares, director of the ICIQ, has highlighted the importance of these awards as a platform for fostering talent and social impact in the scientific field: “These awards are key to transforming cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. At the ICIQ, we want to continue fostering the talent and entrepreneurship that drive our society forward.”
“We are very proud to be hosting the fifth edition of the BASF-ICIQ Awards, an initiative that has established itself as a leading platform for recognising talent, scientific excellence and entrepreneurship in the field of chemistry,” says Francesc Simó, Managing Director of BASF Spain. “At BASF, we firmly believe in the power of collaboration between business, research and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to drive progress towards innovative and sustainable solutions. These awards reflect precisely that commitment to connecting knowledge, industry and innovation to help tackle the major challenges of our time.”
Applications open until September 25, 2026
Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official ICIQ and BASF website until 25 September 2026.
A jury composed of experts from various fields will evaluate the projects based on their level of innovation, potential impact, and feasibility, among other criteria. The winners will be announced at an award ceremony to be held in October at ICIQ’s facilities in Tarragona.
La entrada ICIQ and BASF announce the fifth edition of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards se publicó primero en ICIQ.