Meyer-Galow Foundation
This sculpture by the artist Günter Steinmann is presented to all prize winners. It translates creative endeavour into artistic form and thus creates a lasting symbol.
To further promote industrial chemistry, particularly with regard to sustainability and the need for chemical products or processes of high value to our society, Erhard Meyer-Galow founded the "Meyer-Galow Foundation for Industrial Chemistry", whose task is the annual awarding of the
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In accordance with a resolution passed by the Board of the German Chemical Society on 5 March 2012, the Foundation is administered by the GDCh. Endowments are desired and welcome.
Professor Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow worked predominantly at the interface between chemistry and the market throughout his professional career. Consequently, business chemistry runs like a common thread through his professional activities. During Professor Meyer-Galow’s term as GDCh President in 1998/1999, he was particularly committed to establishing the “Chemistry and Business Association (VCW)” within the GDCh and to introducing a degree programme in “Business Chemistry” at German universities. To accelerate the establishment of this degree programme, HÜLS AG, under his leadership as Chairman of the Executive Board, established the endowed professorship “Business Administration for Natural Sciences, particularly Chemistry” at the University of Münster in 1998 for a period of five years. This professorship was the first of its kind in Germany and continues to train business chemists very successfully to this day. For many years, the founder himself gave lectures at the University of Münster on “Business Chemistry in the Chemical Industry”. Prof. Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow was appointed honorary professor on 28 July 1998 and received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on ribbon on 20 October 1998 in recognition of his many achievements.
On his own website, the founder provides personal insights into the reasons that inspired him to establish the foundation.
The award is endowed with 10,000 euros.
It is presented to people who, in the German-speaking region – either alone or with a team – have successfully brought a current innovation in chemistry to market. This may be a product or a process. The invention that is developed into an innovation may, but need not, originate from the awardee. However, they should be the driving force behind its implementation in the market.
The awardee is considered particularly deserving if they
Recordings of the award ceremonies are available on the founder’s YouTube channel.
The nomination must include the following documents:
Please direct your questions to the Foundation Secretary, who will be happy to provide you with further information.
Dr. Felix Müller has been Foundation Secretary of the Meyer-Galow Foundation for Business Chemistry since 2020. Contact: felix.mueller@uni-oldenburg.de
Prof. Dr. Andreas Künkel, Vice President, Head of Biodegradation & Microplastics Research BASF SE, received the award for his exceptional achievements in the field of biodegradable polymers. His holistic approach of combining biology and chemistry with digital tools enables the optimum use of biodegradable polymers in appropriate habitats. Professor Künkel has communicated his work very actively in scientific circles as a key component of sustainable chemistry in the circular economy.
Prof. Dr. Ruth Bieringer, President Material Technologies at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, received the award for her work in developing high-temperature-resistant plastics and innovative flame-retardant barriers for lithium-ion batteries. With Quantix® ULTRA plastics, Dr. Ruth Bieringer and her team succeeded in developing a family of materials characterised by exceptional heat and flame resistance.
Dr. Dennis Lippmann, thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH, was honoured in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the development and successful market launch of the uhde® dual-pressure process for ammonia synthesis. Together with his team, his innovative approach significantly increased the capacity of ammonia plants and improved their energy efficiency. This minimised the risks involved in scaling up plants and enabled larger-scale construction.
Dr. Werner Bonrath, DSM, Kaiseraugst/Switzerland, was honoured in recognition of his contributions to the development of a more sustainable synthesis of vitamin E. His excellent research, followed by its successful industrial implementation and market launch, has made it possible to produce the two key building blocks 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone and isophytol more cost-effectively and with lower energy consumption. This has significantly reduced the CO2 footprint, representing an important step towards sustainable production.
Dr. Oliver Schadt, Merck, Darmstadt, received the award in recognition of his contributions to the identification and development of the small-molecule drug tepotinib. Tepotinib is a targeted cancer therapy approved in Europe and worldwide for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 skipping alterations, providing an innovative and effective treatment option for a previously unmet medical need. Its successful market launch is due in particular to his innovative thinking and inclusive, team-oriented leadership style.
Dr Götz Baumgarten, Axel Kobus and Jörg Balster of Evonik Operations GmbH impressed the Foundation Advisory Board with their development of polyimide hollow-fibre membranes known under the SEPURAN brand name. Within a very short time, together with their team, they succeeded in developing and launching a gas separation membrane that is now the leading biogas upgrading technology.
Dr. Edgar Endlein, Werner und Mertz GmbH, was recognised for his many years of commitment to innovation and sustainability management. He successfully advanced the well-known consumer goods brand Frosch with innovative and sustainable products based on regional European vegetable oils in the cosmetics and detergent industry.
Dr. Roland Bayer, Application Development Leader, DuPont N&B, received the award for the development and market launch of a thermoplastic hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Filaments produced from it are used as support material in 3D printing and can be washed out with simple tap water after the printing process. They are fully recyclable.
Dr. Markus Rarbach, Clariant, for the development and successful market launch of the highly complex sunliquid® technology. Fossil energy sources are replaced by cellulose ethanol. This makes a practically greenhouse-gas-neutral biofuel available.
Dr. Markus Heitzmann, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, made a significant contribution to the successful market launch of Jardiance® (empagliflozin), an oral antidiabetic that also reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with existing cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Thorsten Bartels, Boris Eisenberg, Dr. Klaus Schimossek, Dr. Torsten Stöhr, EVONIK, were honoured for the development of high-performance lubricants in vehicles, machines and systems, contributing to resource efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
Dr. Andreas Lutz and Dr. Stefan Schmatloch, DOW, were recognised for lightweight construction concepts in the automotive industry, specifically for research and development into new adhesive technologies.
Dr. Michael Heckmeier, Dr. Harald Hirschmann, Dr. Sang-Kyu Lee, Dr. Roman Maisch, Merck KGaA. The team works in liquid crystal research and was honoured for the development of liquid crystal formulations for energy-efficient smartphones and tablets.
Dr. Thomas Greindl, BASF, succeeded in developing and successfully launching readily biodegradable surfactants and complexing agents, particularly TRILON ® M, a high-performance alternative to phosphates.
Dr. Susanne Röhrig, Bayer AG, was the first to receive this award for her contribution to the discovery and development of the novel anticoagulant rivaroxaban. Introduced to the market as the innovative thrombosis medication Xarelto.
The work to fulfil the purpose of the foundation is carried out by an advisory board. As far as possible, this foundation board should include, in addition to the founder:
Prof. Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow, Essen (founder and Chair of the foundation)
Dr. Felix Müller, Evonik Industries AG, Essen (Secretary of the foundation)
Prof. Dr. Karsten Danielmeier, Covestro AG, Leverkusen
Prof. Dr. Michael Dröscher, Dorsten
Prof. Dr. Jens Leker, University of Münster
Dr. Kathrin Wolter, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Stephan von Delft, University of Münster