Unifying Systems in Catalysis
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The Cluster of Excellence Unifying Systems in Catalysis (UniSysCat) is an interdisciplinary research network funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the federal and state initiative under the name Exzellenzstrategie (Excellence Strategy).[1][2][3] The funding period spans from January 1, 2019, to December 30, 2025.[4][5]
Overview
[edit]Approximately 300 researchers from the Berlin and Potsdam areas work at UniSysCat, focusing on current issues in catalysis research. [6] UniSysCat is the follow-up project to the Cluster of Excellence Unifying Concepts in Catalysis (UniCat), funded from 2007 to 2018 as part of the federal and state excellence initiative of Germany, Exzellenzstrategie.[7]
Objectives
[edit]UniSysCat focuses on research into catalytic reactions driven by biocatalysts, aiming to develop controllable reaction networks applicable to sustainable chemistry and biochemistry. The initiative builds upon previous research from its predecessor, UniCat, which was active from 2007 to 2018 and received significant funding to support advancements in catalysis research. [8][9][10]
Knowledge transfer
[edit]The network also aims to transfer the knowledge and results it has found for use by third-party organizations in the sustainable chemistry industry.[11]
BasCat
[edit]In 2011, the UniCat Cluster of Excellence and the chemical company, BASF, founded the joint laboratory BasCat (UniCat BASF JointLab) at Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin). BasCat conducts basic research in the field of heterogeneous catalysis with a focus on the catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons to value-added products.[12]
Chemical Invention Factory
[edit]The Chemical Invention Factory (CIF, John Warner Center for Start-ups in Green Chemistry) is a project initiated at TU Berlin that encourages young scientists to become founders of their own start-ups. The Factory has supported research in green chemistry, materials, and nanotechnology.
INKULAB
[edit]The INKULAB was a project promoting young entrepreneurs in chemistry. The project concluded in April 2020 after five years.
Consortium
[edit]- Technische Universität Berlin
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Universität Potsdam
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Max-Planck-Institut for Colloids and Interfaces
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie
Spokespersons: Holger Dobbek (HU Berlin), Matthias Driess (TU Berlin), Arne Thomas (TU Berlin)
Research
[edit]UniSysCat consists of around 60 research groups working on experimental methods and theoretical approaches in the fields of molecular and structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics, chemical synthesis, physical and theoretical chemistry, and physics. UniSysCat's research strategy is based on the previous work of the UniCat Cluster of Excellence (Unifying Concepts in Catalysis). [13]
Its research focuses on parameters that can enable and control chemo-catalytic and bio-catalytic networks, and on how chemical and biological processes can be coupled to create catalytic systems with new functions.[14]
Clara Immerwahr Award
[edit]The Clara Immerwahr Award, launched in 2011 by the UniCat Cluster of Excellence, promotes young women in catalysis research. The award is given annually to a young female scientist from Germany or abroad in the early phase of their career (postdoc, young scientist) for her performance in catalysis research. The award is associated with a financial grant of 15,000 euros for a research stay in a UniSysCat research group and is intended to establish close cooperation with UniSysCat working groups.[15]
The Clara Immerwahr Award is dedicated to Dr. Clara Immerwahr (1870-1915), who in 1900 became the first woman in Germany to receive a doctorate in physical chemistry.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Website on the Excellence Strategy". ExStra - Excellence Strategy of the German federal & state governments. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ "DFG - GEPRIS - Unifying Systems in Catalysis "UniSysCat"". gepris.dfg.de.
- ^ Burchard, Amory (September 27, 2018). "Sieben von neun Clusteranträgen bewilligt". Der Tagesspiegel Online – via Tagesspiegel.
- ^ Berlin, UniSysCat (2024-03-12). "UniSysCat and the New Proposal". www.unisyscat.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "Unifying Systems in Catalysis (UniSysCat)". www.berlin-university-alliance.de. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ "UniSysCat: UniSysCat at a glance". www.unisyscat.de.
- ^ "Exzellenzinitiative des Bundes und der Länder (2005-2017/2019)".
- ^ "12 Principles of Green Chemistry".
- ^ "Der Pflanzenzelle abgeschaut".
- ^ "der Suche nach Heiratsvermittlern".
- ^ "UniSysCat: Transfer". www.unisyscat.de. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "UniSysCat: BasCat". www.unisyscat.de. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "UniSysCat: UniSysCat at a glance". www.unisyscat.de.
- ^ "Unifying Systems in Catalysis (UniSysCat)". www.berlin-university-alliance.de. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28.
- ^ "UniSysCat: Clara Immerwahr Award". www.unisyscat.de.
- ^ "Clara Immerwahr | Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e.V."