OREANDA-NEWS. May 21, 2012. BASF and Volkswagen are today launching an international initiative to promote research in the electrochemistry field. The “Science Award Electrochemistry” is intended to promote outstanding scientific and engineering achievements and provide impetus for the development of high-performance energy stores. The Science Award will be presented annually and is aimed at top scientists in the global academic research community. This is the first time that a science award is being presented jointly by two companies on a cross-sectoral basis. The award is endowed with prize money of €50,000.

Candidates for the Science Award can apply on the internet platform www.science-award.com by submitting the necessary documents until August 3, 2012. This site also describes the requirements for participation, the procedure and the selection process. The entries will be judged by a jury of experts from BASF, Volkswagen and representatives from the world of science. The award ceremony will be held on October 22, 2012, in Wolfsburg.

New, efficient drive concepts like electromobility based on regenerative energies require innovative energy stores. Expert electrochemical knowledge is essential for developing these new storage systems and thus for climate-friendly and resource conserving supply of regenerative energy. Existing energy stores do not yet offer the performance that customers have come to expect in the energy supply and mobility sectors. BASF and Volkswagen, with their outstanding research competence as leading companies in their sectors, are therefore offering the Science Award to motivate top-rank researchers to further increase their participation in the field of electrochemistry and its applications. The prize money is intended as start-up funding for further research activities and is to be used for laboratory equipment, scientific events or to fund highly qualified employees.

 As the world's largest automotive supplier in the chemical industry, BASF is working intensively to develop innovative battery components such as cathode materials and electrolytes that allow the production of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. “Batteries are the key technology for the electromobility of the future. With the Science Award we are supporting highly qualified scientists around the world so that new future-capable battery technologies can be researched and developed even faster,” explained Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. The company is making a key contribution to developing affordable, eco-friendly and sustainable electric automobiles. “Our high-performance battery materials and other innovative functional components will allow a greater driving range with reduced weight and lower costs,” said Bock.

Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, states: “This science award is intended to motivate and carry forward innovative thinking. Because the further development of high-performance batteries is indispensable in order to boost the driving range and thus the appeal of electric vehicles. We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of ensuring that Volkswagen battery systems will facilitate reliable day-to-day operations for 10 years, thus lasting for a normal automotive life span.”