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.
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
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)
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
2025: Business success / scientific excellence
- "Virtual commissioning of the Etching-Line-Next with digital twin"
Authors: Amelie Meisinger, Markus Seitz, Roland Niedermeier, Michael Hausinger, Christian Hirsch, Christoph Hirsch, Max Hitzenberger. - “Silicon Eye - infrared cameras and artificial intelligence offer, for the first time, a look inside the largest silicon furnace in Holla, Norway”
Authors: Thomas Schröck, Evangelos Bertakis, Eirik Andersen Rotevatn, Hallvard Loeseth, Recep Alkaya, Evren Pamir, Anders Solem, Ludwig Hermann
2024: Product innovation
Authors
- George Lu
- William Wang
- Rula Wang
- Qiang Cao
- Maria Mei
- Sijie Xiao
Title
Direct marketing of silicone sealants on online B2C platforms
2019: Product innovation
Authors
- Rachela Mohr
- Helmut Reuscher
Title
Development of CAVACURMIN®
2018: Product innovation
Authors
- Volker Stanjek
- Lars Zander
Title
Innovation award for developing novel binders for adhesives and coatings
2017: Basic research
Authors
- Erich Schaffer
- Steffen Dörrich
- Florian Koopmann
- Harald Voit
Title
The behavior of silicones at high temperatures
2016: Process innovation
Authors
- Ernst Selbertinger
- Dr. Bernd Pachaly
- Frank Riedel
- Maximilian Peter
Title
3D-printing technology for producing molded silicone parts
2015: Product innovation
Author
- Andreas Köllnberger
Title
Wafer-thin, electroactive silicone film
2014: Basic research
Authors
- Carsten Gaebert
- Tobias Daßler
- Günter Wich
Title
The development of the ESETEC 2.0 system for making complex antibody fragments
2013: Process innovation
Authors
- Georg Raming
- Ludwig Altmannshofer
- Waldemar Stein
- Martin Wasner
- Markus Hofbauer
Title
The development of a novel process for making silicon wafers for high-performance devices
2012: Product innovation
Authors
- Christian Daniels
- John Boylan
- Bruce Gruber
Title
VAE-based dispersions for paper coatings
2011: Basic research
Authors
- Anne Alber
- Jan Kunert
Title
Fundamental findings on silane synthesis
2010: Process innovation
Authors
- Georg Pietsch
- Michael Kerstan
Title
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
- Philipp Müller
Title
LED - the future of silicones is bright
2008: Basic research
Authors
- Thomas Kammel
- Volker Stanjek
- Wolfram Schindler
Title
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
Title
Development of a novel method for producing polycrystalline silicon
2006: Product innovation
Author
- Armin Kempf
Title
Development of new platinum catalysts for 1K addition-curing silicone rubber compounds