Fourth and fifth Ernest Solvay Prize winners to receive the world’s highest scientific honor
Syensqo proudly congratulates Professors Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi, awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with Richard Robson for their groundbreaking work on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a revolutionary class of materials with vast potential for addressing global challenges such as carbon capture, hydrogen storage, water harvesting, and gas purification.
Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi have been previously recognized by the Ernest Solvay Prize organized every two years by Syensqo. Their Nobel recognition today underscores the Prize’s mission to honor major scientific discoveries that have the potential to shape the chemistry of tomorrow and promote human progress. Prof. Susumu Kitagawa received the Ernest Solvay Prize in 2017, and Prof. Omar Yaghi in 2024.
We are thrilled to congratulate Professors Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi on this well-deserved recognition. Their pioneering work in reticular chemistry is transforming materials science and driving solutions for sustainability and the energy transition. Their achievement perfectly reflects Syensqo’s purpose: to push the limits of science for the benefit of humanity.
With this year’s Nobel recognition, Professors Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi become the fourth and fifth recipients of the Ernest Solvay Prize to later be honored with a Nobel Prize. Previous laureates who achieved this distinction include Prof. Ben Feringa, Prof. Carolyn Bertozzi, and Dr. Katalin Karikó.
Dr. Kadri recently hosted Professor Yaghi on her podcast “AND is the Future” in the episode “Chemistry AND Curiosity,” where they discussed how innovation, curiosity, and chemistry intersect to drive a more sustainable future.
Syensqo is hosting the next edition of the Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize on March 10, 2026 in Brussels.
Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates in 30 countries.
Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
In 1911, Ernest Solvay brought 24 of the world’s most brilliant minds together to advance scientific research at the first Solvay Conference, a tradition that continues to this day. This extraordinary convergence of scientific explorers is the foundation for Syensqo. Previously known as the Solvay Prize, the Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize by Syensqo builds on the company’s legacy, by honoring one of the world’s foremost explorers in the field of chemistry.
Since 2013, the prize has recognized major scientific discoveries that have the potential to shape the chemistry of tomorrow and promote human progress. Every two years, the most prominent researcher is awarded a €300,000 prize.
Previous prize laureates include Professor Peter G. Schultz in 2013, Professor Ben Feringa in 2015, Professor Susumu Kitagawa in 2017, Professor Carolyn Bertozzi in 2020, Professor Katalin Karikó in 2022 and Prof. Omar Yaghi in 2024. Pr. B Feringa, Pr. C. Bertozzi, Dr. K. Karikó, Pr. S. Kitagawa and Pr. O. Yaghi have all gone on to receive Nobel Prizes, in 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2025 respectively.
Learn more at www.fund.syensqo.com/nurturing-innovation/ernest-solvay-prize
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The Ernest Solvay Prize by Syensqo
Previously known as the Solvay Prize, the Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize by Syensqo builds on our company’s legacy, by honoring one of the world’s foremost explorers in the field of chemistry. Since 2013, the prize has recognized major scientific discoveries that have the potential to shape the chemistry of tomorrow and promote human progress. Every two years, the most prominent researcher is awarded a €300,000 prize.