GraduateSchool of Science Professor Kenichiro Itami was awarded the German Innovation Award Gottfried Wagener Prize 2012. Named for Gottfried Wagener, a German scientist with close ties to Japan, the prize was established by 12 German companies focused on technological innovation and the German Chamber of Commerce to promote industry-academia cooperation between Japan and Germany. The prize is granted to young researchers for innovative research contributing to a better tomorrow. Recipients are selected by a panel of composed of Japanese and German in the academic and business fields.
Professor Itami won this year's prize for his research entitled Innovative Arene-assembled Materials Through Green Chemical Processes. Professor Itami received high praise for developing innovative catalysts connecting molecules directly and in the most ideal manner, and for using his basic methodology to successfully create aromatic compounds ubiquitous in pharmaceuticals, natural products, photoelectric materials, and nanocarbons.
An award ceremony and presentation session was held on Tuesday, June 19th at 17:30 at the residence of the German Ambassador to Japan (Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo).
Relevant website: German Innovation Award
http://german-innovation-award.jp