Distinguished University Professor FUJITA Makoto has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award (German: Humboldt-Forschungspreis), an academic distinction established by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, an international organization dedicated to the promotion of academic cooperation.
Each year, up to 100 researchers worldwide are selected for the Humboldt Research Award across all academic disciplines. The award is presented to internationally renowned scholars who have achieved outstanding academic accomplishments with lasting impact through fundamental discoveries or the development of new theories, and who are expected to continue making significant contributions at the forefront of their respective fields. The Humboldt Research Award is recognized as one of Germany’s most prestigious academic honors.
Distinguished University Professor Fujita is a globally recognized pioneer in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry, which explores the self-assembly of metal ions and organic ligands to create complex molecular architectures. Since his first realization of a self-assembled molecular square in 1990, he has developed a wide variety of molecular cages and polyhedral structures featuring internal cavities, thereby expanding the possibilities for molecular encapsulation, reaction control, and catalytic functions. Furthermore, his invention of the crystalline sponge method, which enables the structural determination of compounds that are difficult or impossible to crystallize, has opened new avenues in chemical structure analysis. These seminal and enduring contributions led to his selection for the Humboldt Research Award.
