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Palladium Global Science Award Ceremony in Hong Kong

On November 22, 2025, Hong Kong hosted the first-ever Palladium Global Science Award ceremony. This prestigious event celebrated the most advanced innovations in industrial applications of palladium, recognizing contributions from experts around the globe. The international scientific competition, established in 2025, aims to stimulate groundbreaking research around new palladium-based technologies.

Five remarkable scientists from Canada, Japan, India, the United States, and Saudi Arabia were honored as laureates, sharing a total prize pool of $350,000. The event gathered leading scientists, industry representatives, government officials, and international partners, where winners were announced and the high level of innovation was commended, illustrating the contest's global outreach and its role in developing leading-edge palladium technologies.

Nearly 100 entries from over 30 countries were submitted in this inaugural edition of the competition. These research contributions spanned traditional and alternative energy, metallurgy, chemistry, nanotechnology, medicine, electronics, and environmental technologies. Contributions were meticulously evaluated by an international advisory committee, which assessed each submission based on scientific innovativeness, technological feasibility, and industrial applicability.

Three prestigious categories were created to recognize outstanding work:
1. Best Scientific Insights into New Applications of Palladium
2. Best Scientific Paper on New Uses of Palladium
3. Best Applied Concept in New Uses of Palladium

In the Best Scientific Insights category, Professor Chao-Jun Li from McGill University in Canada took first place with his discovery of a palladium catalyst that converts methane and carbon dioxide into methanol, a key chemical feedstock. This technology contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving resource utilization, and minimizing manufacturing waste, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly process. Second place went to Professor Makoto Fujita from the University of Tokyo and the Institute for Molecular Science, Japan, who developed a new method for constructing palladium nanostructures. His work opens avenues for materials with unique properties applicable in fields like electronics, medicine, and advanced industrial technologies.

For the Best Scientific Paper, Professor Natesan Thirupathi from Delhi University in India ranked first for his research on organopalladium chemistry that accelerates drug development and enhances the sustainability of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Professor Michael Joseph Krische from the University of Texas at Austin, USA, was awarded second place for his method utilizing palladium for simultaneous hydrogenation and coupling reactions, speeding up the synthesis of vital medicinal compounds.

The Best Applied Concept accolade was given to Assistant Professor Safa Faris Kayed from Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziza University in Saudi Arabia for PalladClear, a palladium-based wastewater treatment system. This device effectively purifies water, recovers metals for reuse, and reduces environmental impacts, playing a critical role in creating cleaner and safer urban environments.

"We not only assessed original ideas but also their real-world impacts, ensuring that profound scientific insights are coupled with practical implementation. From the initial submissions, it was evident that palladium is extending beyond traditional uses. We see innovations transforming palladium from a raw material into a strategic, functional resource—ranging from new classes of antimicrobial molecules to precise tools for medicine and clean energy. This development enhances existing processes while creating new markets previously thought impossible. By recognizing work that connects scientific depth with scalable uses, we set a standard that can guide global research and development priorities and shape how palladium is employed to tackle challenges for decades to come," stated Francis Verpoort, Chair of the International Advisory Committee for the Palladium Global Science Award.

The competition is supported by the China Precious Metals Industry Committee (CPMIC), along with Shanghai Metals Market, North-West University (South Africa), and the MDX Research Center for Element Strategy (Japan). The next edition of the Palladium Global Science Award will commence in spring 2026. Scientists and engineers from around the world are encouraged to submit new projects that possess the potential to transform technologies, enhance environmental sustainability, and strengthen the role of palladium in the industries of the future.