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WACKER Research Awards

A mainstay of our innovation culture

Progress and innovation are driven not only by the creativity and dedication of our own scientists and engineers, but also by the achievements of external researchers. We award two significant prizes in recognition of this transfer of knowledge and technology.

WACKER Silicone Award

With the WACKER Silicone Award, we have been recognizing outstanding achievements in the field of organosilicon chemistry for almost three decades. The €10,000 prize is presented every other year. Along with the Kipping Award, it ranks among the world’s most prestigious distinctions in the field of silicon chemistry.

“The Silicone Award is a central pillar for stimulating and promoting research activities.”

Dr. Robert Gnann, President of WACKER SILICONES

Previous WACKER Silicone Award Winners

2023

  • Prof. Shigeyoshi Inoue
    (Technical University of Munich)
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2021

  • Prof. Martin Oestreich
    (Technical University of Berlin)

2018

  • Prof. Herbert W. Roesky
    (University of Göttingen, Germany)

2016

  • Prof. Alexander Filippou
    (University of Bonn, Germany)

2014

  • Prof. Akira Sekiguchi
    (University of Tsukuba, Japan)

2011

  • Prof. Matthias Drieß
    (Technical University of Berlin, Germany)

2009

  • Prof. Ulrich Schubert
    (Technical University of Vienna, Austria)

2007

  • Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig
    (Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa)

2005

  • Prof. Mitsuo Kira
    (Tohoku University, Japan)

2003

  • Prof. Don Tilley
    (University of California at Berkeley, USA)

2001

  • Prof. Manfred Weidenbruch (†)
    (University of Oldenburg, Germany)

1998

  • Prof. Robert Corriu (†)
    (Université de Montpellier, France)

1996

  • Prof. Hubert Schmidbaur
    (Technical University of Munich, Germany)

1994

  • Prof. Edwin Hengge (†)

1992

  • Prof. Richard Müller (†)
  • Prof. Eugene Rochow (†)

1991

  • Prof. Hideki Sakurai
    (Science University of Tokyo, Japan)

1989

  • Prof. Robert West
    (University of Wisconsin, USA)

1988

  • Prof. Nils Wiberg (†)
    (University of Munich, Germany)
  • Prof. Reinhold Tacke
    (University of Würzburg, Germany)

1987

  • Prof. Peter Jutzi (†)
    (University of Bielefeld, Germany)
  • Prof. Norbert Auner
    (University of Frankfurt, Germany)

Alexander Wacker Innovation Award

At our annual research symposium, we have been conferring the Alexander Wacker Innovation Award on our employees for their outstanding R&D work since 2006. The focus of this award, which is named in honor of our company founder, Alexander Wacker, rotates between product innovation, process innovation and basic research.

Previous Alexander Wacker Innovation Award Winners

2024: Product Innovation

Authors

  • George Lu
  • William Wang
  • Rula Wang
  • Qiang Cao
  • Maria Mei
  • Sijie Xiao

Topic

Direct Marketing of Silicone Sealants on Online B2C Platforms

2023: Process Innovation

Authors

  • Paul Bönisch
  • Markus Wenzeis

Topic

Optimized Polysilicon Manufacturing Process

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2022: Basic Research

Authors

  • Johanna Koch
  • Rupert Pfaller
  • Annemarie Reutter-Maier
  • Mario Arcos Rodriguez

Topic

Novel Manufacturing Process for Cysteine

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2019: Product Innovation

Authors

  • Rachela Mohr
  • Dr. Helmut Reuscher

Topic

Development of CAVACURMIN®

2018: Product Innovation

Authors

  • Dr. Volker Stanjek
  • Dr. Lars Zander

Topic

Development of innovative binders for adhesives and coatings

2017: Basic Research

Authors

  • Erich Schaffer
  • Dr. Steffen Dörrich
  • Dr. Florian Hoffmann
  • Dr. Harald Voit

Topic

The behavior of silicones at high temperatures

2016: Process Innovation

Authors

  • Dr. Ernst Selbertinger
  • Dr. Bernd Pachaly
  • Dr. Frank Achenbach
  • Dr. Maximilian Peter

Topic

3D-printing technology for producing molded silicone parts

2015: Product Innovation

Author

  • Dr. Andreas Köllnberger

Topic

Wafer-thin, electroactive silicone film

2014: Basic Research

Authors

  • Dr. Carsten Bornhövd
  • Dr. Tobias Daßler
  • Dr. Günter Wich

Topic

The development of the ESETEC 2.0 system for making complex antibody fragments

2013: Process Innovation

Authors

  • Dr. Georg Raming
  • Ludwig Altmannshofer
  • Waldemar Stein
  • Martin Wasner
  • Markus Hofbauer

Topic

The development of a novel process for making silicon wafers for high-performance devices

2012: Product Innovation

Authors

  • Christian Daniels
  • John Boylan
  • Bruce Gruber

Topic

VAE-based dispersions for paper coatings

2011: Basic Research

Authors

  • Dr. Anne Alber
  • Dr. Jan Kunert

Topic

Fundamental findings on silane synthesis

2010: Process Innovation

Authors

  • Dr. Georg Pietsch
  • Michael Kerstan

Topic

Planetary pad grinding – an innovative grinding technique for the production of ultra-flat silicon wafers for future generations of electronic components

2009: Product Innovation

Author

  • Dr. Philipp Müller

Topic

LEDs – the future of silicones is bright

2008: Basic Research

Authors

  • Dr. Thomas Kammel
  • Dr. Volker Stanjek
  • Dr. Wolfam Schindler

Topic

The discovery of the “alpha-effect” with the aim of investigating the fundamentals of new organofunctional silanes and developing silane-curing polymers for adhesive and sealant applications

2007: Process Innovation

Author

  • Harald K. Hertlein

Topic

The development of a novel method for producing polycrystalline silicon

2006: Product Innovation

Author

  • Dr. Armin Fehn

Topic

The development of new platinum catalysts for 1K addition-curing silicone rubber compounds