Media Spotlights

Rei Jaume I Award for exceptional contributions to New Technologies

June 2023

The Rei Jaume I Awards, initiated in 1989, aim to foster the relationship between science and business in Spain, honoring individuals with significant contributions mainly made in Spain. Among this year's awardees is Professor ICREA Daniel Maspoch, the Group Leader of the ICN2 Supramolecular Nanochemistry and Materials Group. Each awardee receives a gold medal, a diploma, and 100,000 euros, with a commitment to reinvest part in research and entrepreneurship in Spain. This year, the award ceremony, presided over by His Majesty the King, will be held on November 28 at the Lonja de los Mercaderes in Valencia, covering six different categories. Congratulations to all the awardees!

The social challenge

ICREA Professor Daniel Maspoch confronts the pivotal scientific challenge of synthesizing and manipulating new materials. His focus on porous reticular materials and delivery systems is changing the landscape of materials science, opening revolutionary possibilities for myriad applications. His innovative approaches have given rise to four products licensed by ICN2, making him a national reference in terms of applied advanced research.

Rei Jaume I Award for exceptional contributions to New Technologies

Applying basic knowledge: ICREA Prof. Daniel Maspoch

Professor Maspoch completed his degree in Chemistry at the Universitat de Girona and subsequently obtained his PhD in Materials Science at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) & Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC). After working with Professors Jaume Veciana, Concepció Rovira, and Chad A. Mirkin, he joined the ICN2 in 2011, leading his own research group and making groundbreaking contributions in the field of porous reticular materials.

An author of over 200 articles and 6 book chapters, Professor Maspoch has been a recipient of the prestigious ERC Advanced Grant (2021), a second ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant (2022), and the New Technologies Rei Jaume I Award (2023). He has also been recognized with the Research Excellence Award from the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (2020) and was appointed Corresponding Academician of the Physical and Chemical Sciences Section, in the specialty of Materials Science, by the Royal Spanish Academy of Science (2022).

As a testament to his technology transfer contributions, several technologies and materials developed by his group have been transferred to various companies. Additionally, he has co-developed three technologies based on delivery systems currently available on the market, signed 4 technology transfer contracts, filed 12 patents (of which 4 have been licensed), co-founded the spin-off company Ahead Therapeutics, and collaborated with 15 private companies.

Ongoing Research & Awards

  • CLIPOFF-CHEM Project: Sponsored by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, this project introduced a novel approach to synthesizing new materials. The "Clip-Off Chemistry" technique, led by Prof. Maspoch, generates new materials or molecules by selectively breaking certain bonds in known reticular materials. This pioneering approach has the potential to pave the way for the engineering of a plethora of new molecular blocks and structures.
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  • New Technologies Rei Jaume I Award (2023): Prof. Maspoch's exceptional contributions to new technologies secured him the prestigious New Technologies Rei Jaume I award. His groundbreaking research in the synthesis of reticular materials and successful translation of academic concepts into industrial applications have significantly advanced the domain of material science.
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  • Co-founding of Ahead Therapeutics: Prof. Maspoch co-founded Ahead Therapeutics, a company that's currently developing new treatments for autoimmune diseases, showcasing his commitment to transferring academic findings into tangible, societal benefits.
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  • Licensed Products: Prof. Maspoch's research projects have given rise to four products licensed by the ICN2 that have reached international markets.

Prof. Daniel Maspoch is not only an exceptional chemist and an award-winning researcher but also a highly reliable source for media. His extensive work, his ability to successfully transfer his research to the commercial market, and his recognition through numerous awards make him a key figure in the realm of porous reticular materials and delivery systems. His continuous efforts and contributions to materials science promise exciting new breakthroughs and applications soon.

Media contact

For a compelling narrative on the frontlines applied research and new materials, we warmly invite you to feature ICREA Prof. Daniel Maspoch in your forthcoming media stories.

Please reach out to the ICN2 Marketing and Communication department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to facilitate your engagement with him.