Clariant supports catalysis innovation with research partnership and significant financial contribution

4 February 2021

The specialty chemicals company Clariant has entered into a strategic partnership with ETH Zurich spanning an initial period of ten years. It will support innovation in the area of catalysis as well as sustainable chemistry.

ETH Zurich Foundation, Clariant supports catalysis innovation with research partnership and significant financial contribution
The groups of Javier Pérez-Ramírez, ETH Professor of Catalysis Engineering (left), and Christophe Copéret, ETH Professor of Surface and Interface Chemistry (right), want to work together with Clariant to advance catalysis innovation.
© ETH Zürich
The groups of Javier Pérez-Ramírez, ETH Professor of Catalysis Engineering (left), and Christophe Copéret, ETH Professor of Surface and Interface Chemistry (right), want to work together with Clariant to advance catalysis innovation.
© ETH Zürich

The aim of the partnership is, firstly, to improve understanding of catalyst properties – from the nanolevel to the macrolevel – and their performance. Secondly, Clariant will collaborate with ETH on projects in basic chemical research and fund these via the ETH Foundation, at the same time supporting talented researchers and students at ETH.

Ongoing exchange of ideas

Hans Bohnen, member of Clariant’s Executive Committee, said: “This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering innovation in order to develop groundbreaking products and solutions that add value to people, industries, and the environment.”

Marvin Estenfelder, Head of R&D at Clariant Catalysts, added: “There is no better way to develop the next generation of products than through a continuous exchange of ideas with future generations of scientists. We are looking forward to realizing many successful projects with ETH Zurich.”

First-hand expertise

Detlef Günther, Vice President for Research of ETH Zurich, explained: “The new research collaboration with Clariant opens great opportunities for our scientists and students to expand their knowledge in catalysis, and benefit from first-hand expertise in the industrial application of novel technologies.”