Javier Pérez-Ramírez is a world-renowned leader in catalysis engineering whose innovative work has transformed approaches to sustainable chemical production. He currently serves as Full Professor of Catalysis Engineering at ETH Zurich, a position he has held since 2010, where he leads groundbreaking research at the Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering. Born in Benidorm, Spain in 1974, he earned his Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Alicante before completing his PhD at Delft University of Technology in 2002 under Professors Moulijn and Kapteijn. His distinguished career path includes significant industry experience at Norsk Hydro and Yara International in Norway from 2002 to 2005, followed by his appointment as an ICREA Research Professor at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia in Tarragona, Spain from 2005 to 2009.
Professor Pérez-Ramírez's pioneering research focuses on the design of catalytic materials and process concepts that enable the transition toward sustainable chemical and energy production at industrial scale. His laboratory has produced over 400 highly influential publications that have established new paradigms in catalyst design for environmental applications, chlorine recycling, and carbon dioxide valorization. As a Highly Cited Researcher in chemistry, his work bridges fundamental catalytic science with practical implementation, resulting in more than 20 patents that have been successfully commercialized by major chemical companies. His development of novel catalytic processes has provided critical pathways for reducing carbon emissions in industrial chemistry while maintaining economic viability. This integrative approach has positioned his research at the forefront of sustainable chemical engineering, addressing some of the most pressing energy and environmental challenges of our time.
Beyond his research contributions, Professor Pérez-Ramírez serves as the Chair of the Editorial Board of Green Chemistry and sits on the editorial boards of numerous prestigious journals including Advanced Functional Materials and ACS Catalysis, significantly shaping the direction of the field. He founded and currently directs NCCR Catalysis, a Swiss Centre of Competence in Research dedicated to developing carbon-neutral chemicals across the entire value chain through catalytic processes, which represents one of Switzerland's most strategic research initiatives. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Paul H. Emmett Award in Fundamental Catalysis in 2019, the Robert K. Grasselli Award for Catalysis in 2021, and the RSC Environment, Sustainability and Energy Horizon Prize in 2022. As both an Isaac Manasseh Meyer Chair Professor at the National University of Singapore and Director of Studies for chemical and bioengineering degrees at ETH Zurich, he continues to mentor the next generation of scientists while advancing the global agenda for sustainable industrial chemistry.
