About

Renowned chemist and global expert in sustainable energy and materials chemistry, celebrated for pioneering large-scale industrial decarbonisation technologies that have significantly reduced CO2 emissions in the chemical industry. His innovations, particularly in nanotechnology, have significantly improved the energy efficiency of major industrial processes and advanced key technologies in decarbonisation, hydrogen production and solar energy.

A passionate advocate for sustainability, Javier holds influential roles in organisations such as IUPAC, the World Economic Forum and the International Science Council. As a successful entrepreneur, he has commercialised decarbonisation technologies that are now in use worldwide. His scientific contributions and policy advice continue to shape industry efforts to achieve net-zero emissions and sustainable development goals.

Professional Experience

Director, Molecular Nanotechnology Lab, University of Alicante (2009–present)
President, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) (2022–2023)
Co-founder & Chief Scientist, Rive Technology, Inc. (2006–2019) – Acquired by W.R. Grace
Member, World Economic Forum's Emerging Technologies Council and Global Agenda Council
President, Young Academy of Spain (2019–2023)

Education

Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2001–2003)
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Alicante (2000, summa cum laude)
B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Alicante (1996)

Visiting Scholar Positions

Oxford University, Harvard University, Princeton, Tsinghua University, UFRJ, and others

Books

Innovación con futuro J. García-Martinez (ed.), Gestion 2000, Planeta (2024)
Chemistry Entrepreneurship. A guide to the commercialization of scientific J. García-Martínez, (ed.), breakthroughs, WILEY-VCH (2021)
España a ciencia cierta J. García-Martínez (ed.), Gestion 2000, Planeta (2021)
Innovation with a Future (2024)
Chemistry Entrepreneurship, Wiley-VCH (2021)
Nanotechnology for the Energy Challenge, Wiley-VCH (2013, 2nd Ed.)

Major Awards & Honors

Honorary Fellow, Chinese Chemical Society (2025)
Honorary Professor, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (2024)
National Research Award (Spain, 2023)
Honorary Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (2024)
Fellow, American Chemical Society
King James I Award for New Technologies (2014)
TR35 Innovator of the Year by MIT (2007)

Scientific Contributions

Prof. García Martínez has authored more than 100 scientific publications and holds over 30 patents, with 25 in industrial use. His research has appeared in top-tier journals such as Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, and Angewandte Chemie.

Selected patents

J. García-Martínez M. Mendoza Castro; N. Noemi, E. Jardin, Material zeolítico híbrido, métodos de obtención y usos asociados, P202230159 (2022)
K. Li, J. García-Martínez, Zeolites with Tuned Aluminum Content and Mesoporosity, US Patent 20200239323 (2020)
J. García-Martínez, E. Senderov, Mesoporous framework-modified zeolites, US Patent 9,580,328 (2017)
J. García-Martínez, Mesoporous zeolite catalyst supports, US Patent 9,573,121 1 (2017)
J. García-Martínez, M. Johnson, I. Valla, Introduction of mesoporosity in low Si/Al zeolites, US Patent 9,580,329 (2017)
J. García-Martínez, L. Dight, B. Speronello, Methods for enhancing the mesoporosity of zeolite-containing materials, US Patent 9,517,453 (2016)

Policy & Global Impact

He has advised the United Nations, OECD, and the European Commission on scientific and environmental policy, and played a leading role in the creation of international initiatives like the International Year of Chemistry and the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development.