Our 2021 Horizon Prize winners

For a novel approach to early Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and stratification using a simple non-invasive skin swab.

For the development of Digital Microfluidics-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (DMF-NMR) technology for enhanced chemical analysis.

For the development of new biocatalysts for asymmetric reductive amination, from fundamental understanding of mechanism and structure to applications on an industrial scale.

For the development of chemical precision tools for the new era of quantitative glycobiology.

For contributions to molecular magnetism, including high temperature single molecule magnets, applications of EPR spectroscopy to actinide chemistry and the use of heterometallic rings as building blocks in supramolecular chemistry.

For the development of new catalyst and reactor technology for transforming municipal solid waste to sustainable fuel.

For successfully prototyping a solar-to-hydrocarbons reactor, achieving excellent performance and demonstrating a reliable benchmark for artificial leaf design.

For scientific and engineering breakthroughs that have enabled hydrogen peroxide synthesis to become a commercial and industrial reality.

For the development of ultrafast x-ray scattering for studying chemical dynamics and structure in photoexcited molecules.

For novel studies on the electrochemical properties and energy storage applications of MXenes.

For the development and significant impact of an innovative free online course designed to aid the transition to study chemistry and related degrees at university.

For the creation of innovative chemical education resources that benefit how students, children, and the general public learn organic chemistry.

For the development of a 1st year undergraduate remote laboratory experience, which provides students with a ‘chemistry kit for the 21st century’ and places a focus on measurement within everyday contexts.

For stabilisation of fluorescent proteins in polymer coatings and their use in bio-based lighting technology.

For the development of Monte Carlo software, CrystalGrower, that simulates both crystal habit and nanoscopic surface topography of any crystal structure.

For the discovery of a new class of enzymes, the pericyclases, that catalyse reactions in biosynthesis of complex natural products, and for identifying their mechanisms.  

For the development of a unique approach for directly observing transient species and key bond-forming steps that underpin transition metal-catalysed C–H activation and functionalisation reactions.   

For the development of multidimensional click chemistry, a next-generation click-technology that extends bond creation into the three-dimensional world, opening doors to new frontiers in biomedicine, materials science, and beyond.