The jury unanimously decided to grant the distinction ex aequo to the UA researcher and the biochemist Mariano Barbacid, in recognition of their distinguished careers and contributions to society. The Chemistry Excellence Award recognizes a professional career dedicated to chemistry and its social impact.
In the case of García Martínez, the jury highlights his contributions to porous materials and catalysis, his ability to transfer chemical knowledge to industry, and his commitment to the profession. García Martínez is a professor of Inorganic Chemistry and director of the Molecular Nanotechnology Laboratory at the UA. His team designs nanoporous materials, particularly zeolites, which enable the development of more efficient catalysts.
His research lines include the transformation of plastic waste into high-value-added products and the design of catalysts that reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of industrial processes. During his time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he developed the Molecular Highway technology, which incorporates additional porosity into zeolites to facilitate molecule transport and enhance catalyst performance.
In 2006, he founded Rive Technology to commercialize it. The multinational W. R. Grace acquired his business and assets in 2019, including this technology, which was incorporated into cracking catalysts used in refineries worldwide. García Martínez presided over the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) for the 2022-2023 biennium, being the first Spaniard to hold this position.
During his tenure, he promoted organizational reforms, the integration of the International Network of Young Chemists, and the creation of the Forum of Presidents of Chemical Societies, designed to strengthen cooperation among these entities. He also promoted IUPAC's initiative on ten emerging technologies in chemistry, the first selection of which was published in 2019, and participated in the development of its Guiding Principles for Responsible Chemistry, presented in 2025.
His commitment to new generations is also reflected in his role as co-founder and first president of the Young Academy of Spain and as founder of Celera, a program for young talent development that combines training, mentoring, and entrepreneurship support. His awards include the Rei Jaume I Prize for New Technologies (2014), the American Chemical Society's Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success (2018), and the «Juan de la Cierva» National Research Prize in Technology Transfer (2023).
The UA researcher is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chinese Chemical Society. He also holds honorary doctorates from the University of La Rioja and the National University of San Marcos in Peru, where he was invested this October. Furthermore, he is the first Spaniard elected to the governing body of the International Science Council (ISC), the World Science Council.
This inaugural edition of the National Chemistry Prizes coincides with the 75th anniversary of the General Council of Official Colleges of Chemists of Spain. The awards aim to recognize the contribution of the chemical profession to health, industry, and energy transition, as well as to bring its work closer to society. In addition to García Martínez and Barbacid, Coral Barbas Arribas, professor of Analytical Chemistry at the CEU San Pablo University, has received the Equality in the Chemical Profession Award, and Amador Menéndez Velázquez, a researcher at the IDONIAL technology center, has been distinguished with the Chemistry Outreach Award.
The award ceremony will be held in a solemn event, the date and location of which will be announced soon.
