The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has released the ‘2021 Top Emerging Technologies in Chemistry’ with blockchain technology, together with chemical synthesis of RNA and DNA making the cut 10.
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has released the results of the search for the 2021 Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry. The goal of this project is to showcase the transformative value of Chemistry and to inform the general public on the potential of the chemical sciences to foster the well-being of Society and the sustainability of our Planet.
The Jury, a selection of international experts, identified different emerging technologies, scientific advances in between a discovery and fully-commercialized ideas, with outstanding capacity to open new opportunities in chemistry, sustainability, and beyond.
2021 Finalists
The 2021 finalists are (in alphabetical order):
- Artificial humic matter from biomass
- Blockchain technology
- Chemiluminescence for biological use
- Chemical synthesis of RNA and DNA
- Semi-synthetic life
- Single cell metabolomics
- Sonochemical coatings
- Superwettability
- Sustainable production of ammonia
- Targeted protein degradation
Chemistry overcoming man’s pressing challenges
IUPAC Vice President, Professor Javier García Martínez, said that “In the last months, we have witnessed how vital chemistry is in facing and overcoming our most pressing challenges. Moving forward, these threats will only be more complex and unpredictable. In this regard, the recent IPCC report alerts us to the risk posed by climate change for our survival.
“With the Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry, IUPAC provides a fresh look at technologies that are already creating new opportunities and opening new avenues for research and industry. I hope this year’s edition arouses the same interest and attention as previous IUPAC Top Ten selections.”
Where to find the 2021 cuts
The 2021 Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry are further detailed in an open-access feature article published in the October issue of Chemistry International. Fernando Gomollón-Bel, the author, remarks: “While highlighting breakthroughs for a circular, climate-neutral future, the selected IUPAC Top Ten technologies will change our world for the better, making a more thoughtful use of our resources, favoring more efficient transformations, and providing more sustainable solutions in applications.”
The article is published in the October 2021 issue of IUPAC magazine Chemistry International and freely available .
The Jury was an international group of objective and unbiased experts who reviewed and discussed a pool of nominations, and ultimately selected the final top ten.
Next search is already on
The next search for the Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry has already begun and will be led again by Prof. Dr. Michael Droescher, Treasurer and General Secretary of the German Association for the Advancement of Science and Medicine. Droescher served as a judge for the initial search and as chair of the Jury for both the 2020 and 2021 searches. For more information on the search for the 2022 Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry go to: https://iupac.org/what-we-do/top-ten/.
This report was first published by IUPAC.
