Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, and National Taiwan University, 29 October 2024: Today, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Pure announced that it raised $1 million as an endowment to create a significant award recognizing advances in Sustainable Chemistry.
In a signing ceremony hosted on October 11 by Prof. Wen-Chang Chen, President of the National Taiwan University, IUPAC President Prof. Ehud Keinan and Mr. 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 Prof. Ehud Keinan.
Mr. 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.”
Prof. 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 IUPAC: IUPAC was formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia. Since then, the Union has succeeded in fostering worldwide communications in the chemical sciences and in uniting academic, industrial, and public sector chemistry in a common language. IUPAC is recognized as the world authority on chemical nomenclature, terminology, standardized methods for measurement, atomic weights, and many other critically evaluated data. In recent years, IUPAC has been proactive in establishing a wide range of conferences and projects designed to promote and stimulate modern developments in chemistry and assist in aspects of chemical education and the public understanding of chemistry. More information about IUPAC and its activities is available at www.iupac.org.
About Mr. Raymond Soong: Mr. Raymond Soong, a pioneer of Taiwan’s optoelectronics industry, is a crucial figure craving the path of core optoelectronic and critical electronics component developments. Mr. Raymond 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.
About National Taiwan University: Founded in 1928 as Taihoku Imperial University, NTU Is guided by its motto, “Integrity, Diligence, Fidelity, and Compassion”. With over 34,000 students, including 6,000+ international students from 77 countries and 5,700+ faculty and staff, NTU is determined to promote sustainable development while continuing to expand global opportunities, empowering students to realize their full potential and build global competence.
For more details, see <https://iupac.org/what-we-do/awards/iupac-soong-prize/>
For further information, contact Prof. Ehud Keinan, President, IUPAC, at <ekeinan@iupac.org>
Contact: Fabienne Meyers
IUPAC Associate Director and Editor Chemistry International
fabienne@iupac.org
Release published in Chem Int, Jan 2025, p 20