As a founding member in 2007 of the Foundation for Research in Chemistry—renamed the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation in 2022—BASF France has signed a five-year sponsorship agreement. This €500,000 grant was officially announced on May 29 at the University of Strasbourg, in the presence of Jean-Marie Lehn, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1987); Thomas Ebbesen, Kavli Prize laureate, director of the Foundation, and member of the Presidential Council for Science; and Nicolas Naudin, President of BASF France.
Designated a “Center of Excellence in Chemistry” in 2007 by the French government, the University of Strasbourg has established a foundation that supports its chemistry research center, which operates at the intersection of medicine, physics, biology, materials science, and quantum sciences. According to the 2023 edition of the Shanghai Ranking, this center is ranked number one in the European Union.
The collaboration between BASF and the University of Strasbourg has a long history. This partnership began in 2003, when a BASF laboratory was established on the premises of the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering (ISIS). A few years later, this laboratory became one of the cornerstones of BASF’s global research program known as JONAS (Joint Research Network on Advanced Materials and Systems). Its commitment and trust—strengthened in 2007 by the creation of the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation—make it a major partner of the university and one of the largest sponsors of the chemistry research cluster in Strasbourg.
By renewing its partnership for the 2024–2029 period, BASF France—a global leader in the chemical industry that has been operating in France since 1878 and operates 13 production sites and 5 R&D sites throughout the country—reaffirms its commitment to the scientific community.
“The ties between research and industry are essential to attracting and retaining the scientists of tomorrow in France and providing them with the resources they need to conduct world-class research. This connection is all the more important because it contributes to the country’s appeal and the competitiveness of our industry. In this regard, I am very proud to renew BASF’s commitment in France to the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation.”
Nicolas Naudin, President of BASF France & Managing Director France.
“Many people have a misconception about chemistry. And yet it provides us with the molecules and materials that enable us to achieve our goals, both in the field of health and in the creation of the objects we use in our daily lives. The real challenge is to use the tools offered by chemistry responsibly. Chemistry, like science in general, offers us these tools; it is up to us to use them wisely. Each of us has a role to play, just as companies and industries have already done significant work over the past few decades.”
Jean-Marie Lehn, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (1987)
“A big thank you to BASF for the trust it has placed in this partnership since 2003, both for the University of Strasbourg and for the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation. Basic research—a strength of the University of Strasbourg—is essential to a successful alliance with industry to solve today’s challenges. Indeed, technological innovation stems from the basic sciences.”
Thomas Ebbesen, director of the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation, Kavli Prize laureate, and member of the Presidential Council for Science
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success, environmental protection, and social responsibility. Approximately 112,000 employees of the BASF Group contribute to our customers’ success in nearly every industry and in nearly every country around the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of 68.9 billion euros in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States.
For more information, visit www.basf.com
About the Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation
The Jean-Marie Lehn Foundation serves as a catalyst for scientific partnerships between the University of Strasbourg, the CNRS, and the socio-economic sector. We are firmly committed to supporting a chemistry research hub that creates startups and transforms knowledge into applications capable of revolutionizing our daily lives. The Strasbourg chemistry ecosystem is remarkable in more ways than one: the quality of its basic research is internationally recognized, and the training provided to students by renowned researchers enriches this dynamic scientific environment by nurturing a new generation of talent. We should also highlight the University of Strasbourg’s ranking as a European leader for its impact on innovation (Nature Index 2017). Since 2007, we have allocated more than 46 M€ to research.
For more information, visit fondation-lehn.fr
Press contact:
BASF France SAS: Antoine Bolcato, Tel: +33 6 45 41 15 56, antoine.bolcato@basf.com
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