IUPAC-Soong Prize for Sustainable Chemistry

doi:10.1515/ci-2025-0106

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IUPAC-Soong Prize for Sustainable Chemistry

Published/Copyright: January 20, 2025

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From the journal Chemistry International Volume 47 Issue 1

Abstract

IUPAC raised $1 million as an endowment to create a significant award recognizing advances in Sustainable Chemistry.

In a signing ceremony hosted on 11 October by Wen-Chang Chen, President of the National Taiwan University, IUPAC President Ehud Keinan and Raymond Soong, the founder of LITEON Technology, signed an agreement to secure an endowment fund devoted to the recognition of excellence and progress in Sustainable Chemistry. The restricted funds will establish an annual prize of 30 000 US dollars, which will be first presented next year during the IUPAC World Chemistry Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The awardee will also give a public lecture at National Taiwan University within two years of receiving the Prize.

Soong, a strong supporter of academia, recognizes the pivotal role played by a university education in nurturing talent. He hopes that this Award will not only catalyze focus on global emerging challenges but also attract top-tier scholars and researchers from around the world to address these issues.

“IUPAC is grateful for this outstanding donation and humbled by the challenge. The annual award will recognize exceptional scientists who have achieved breakthrough discoveries in sustainable chemistry worldwide. The IUPAC-Soong Prize will encourage further research to meet the most pressing challenges jeopardizing humanity and Planet Earth,” said Ehud Keinan.

Raymond Soong said: “Sustainable development is essential for the planet’s and humanity’s survival as we confront significant threats across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from governments, businesses, universities, and individuals. Recognizing the crucial role of education in cultivating talent and advancing sustainable development, I am pleased to offer my support through IUPAC, in the hope of uniting academia and various sectors of society to pursue the shared vision of global sustainability. In addition to the formal Prize ceremony, we’ll happily host the Prize laureate in Taiwan, thereby exposing young Taiwanese scholars to the cutting edge of sustainable chemistry.”

IUPAC President Ehud Keinan and Raymond Soong display a signed agreement to secure an endowment fund devoted to the recognition of Sustainable Chemistry.

Wen-Chang Chen said: “As sustainability becomes an increasingly relevant issue globally, how to use fundamental science to address these challenges has become increasingly critical. I am very pleased to see IUPAC’s initiative in establishing an Award of Sustainable Chemistry to inspire chemists to join this effort. NTU is proud to play a role by providing a platform for exchanging academic insights and practical solutions.”

About Raymond Soong

Raymond Soong, a pioneer of Taiwan’s optoelectronics industry, is a crucial figure craving the path of core optoelectronic and critical electronics component developments. Soong founded LITEON Technology in 1975, which set the trend for Taiwan’s in-house LED R&D and production, and LITEON Technology later became Taiwan’s first listed electronics company in 1983. Leading LITEON for almost half a century, Soong’s humbleness and discipline nurtured LITEON’s unique corporate culture of diligence and reliability. Coming a long way since its humble beginnings, Taiwan, known as a high-tech island, now plays a key role in the global supply chain. LITEON continues to build a multinational scope, seeking new opportunities and demonstrating its resilience and grassroots venture, and Soong plays a monumental role in it.

For further information, contact Ehud Keinan, President, IUPAC, at ekeinan@iupac.org or visit <https://iupac.org/what-we-do/awards/iupac-soong-prize/>

Published Online: 2025-01-20

Published in Print: 2025-01-01

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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