Borealis Honors Groundbreaking Sustainability Innovations with 2024 Scientific Innovation Award

Photo: From left to right: Elisabetta Carrieri, Andreas Meinecke (Borealis), Clement Collins Rice, Nina Ackermans (Borealis), Esun Selvam, Rudolf Wölfer (Borealis) © Borealis

(IN BRIEF) Borealis announced the winners of its 2024 Scientific Innovation Award during Innovation Day in Linz, Austria, celebrating advancements in sustainable plastics. The awards recognized innovators addressing key areas such as sustainable production catalysts, energy-efficient polymerization, and polymer recycling. Winners included Clement Collins Rice (University of Oxford) for advanced catalyst design, Elisabetta Carrieri (Ghent University) for recycling agricultural film, and Esun Selvam (University of Delaware) for rapid joule heating in polyolefin recycling. Along with monetary prizes, recipients engaged with industry leaders at Borealis’ headquarters. Applications for the 2025 awards will open in spring, continuing Borealis’ commitment to sustainability and innovation.

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 6-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Borealis, an Austrian chemical company active in the fields of polyolefins and the European front-runner in polyolefins recycling, base chemicals and fertilizers, announced the winners of the 2024 Borealis Scientific Innovation Award (BSIA) during its annual Innovation Day in Linz, Austria, on December 4, 2024. This prestigious award, established in 2008, honors groundbreaking advancements with the potential to shape the future of plastics and drive sustainability across the industry.

This year’s award focused on innovative solutions for environmentally sustainable plastic production and usage, emphasizing Borealis’ commitment to sustainability and leadership in advancing eco-conscious practices. The competition invited submissions from academics, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and researchers worldwide, with entries evaluated by an expert panel from Borealis’ research team.

Recognizing Excellence in Scientific Innovation

Submissions targeted four key areas:

• Development of new catalysts for sustainable production
• Energy-efficient polymerization processes
• Innovative polymer recycling technologies
• Polymeric materials supporting the energy transition

First place went to Clement Collins Rice from the University of Oxford (UK) for his work on highly tunable olefin copolymerization using advanced catalyst design. Second place was awarded to Elisabetta Carrieri of Ghent University (Belgium) for developing a solvent-based recycling process for agricultural film, while third place was secured by Esun Selvam from the University of Delaware (USA) for his novel approach to recycling polyolefin waste using rapid joule heating.

Winners received monetary prizes and the opportunity to visit the Borealis Innovation Headquarters in Linz, where they attended the awards ceremony and connected with leading polymer scientists and industry leaders.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Borealis also announced the next call for applications for the 2025 BSIA, set to open in spring. Aspiring innovators can explore the application process and gain inspiration from past winners on the Borealis Scientific Innovation Award website.

By fostering innovation and collaboration, Borealis continues to drive forward sustainable advancements in plastics, reinforcing its commitment to creating a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.

Group Media Desk

+43 1 22 400 899 (Vienna, Austria)
media@borealisgroup.com

About Borealis
Borealis is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions. In Europe, Borealis is also an innovative leader in polyolefins recycling and a major producer of base chemicals. We leverage our polymer expertise and decades of experience to offer value-adding, innovative and circular material solutions for key industries such as consumer products, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and mobility.

With customers in over 120 countries and head office in Vienna, Austria, Borealis employs around 6,000 people. In 2023, we generated a net profit of EUR 216 million. OMV, the integrated energy, fuels & feedstock and chemicals & materials company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, owns 75% of our shares. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), owns the remaining 25%.

In re-inventing essentials for sustainable living, we build on our commitment to safety, our people, innovation and technology, and performance excellence. We are accelerating the transformation to a circular economy of polyolefins and expanding our geographical footprint to better serve our customers around the globe. Our operations are augmented by two important joint ventures: Borouge (with ADNOC, headquartered in the UAE); and Baystar™ (with TotalEnergies, based in the US).
www.borealisgroup.com | www.borealiseverminds.com

SOURCE: Borealis AG