HONG KONG, Nov. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Palladium Global Science Award ceremony was held in Hong Kong, celebrating the most advanced innovations in industrial palladium applications. Established in 2025, the international scientific competition aims to stimulate and promote groundbreaking research in new palladium-based technologies. Five scientists from Canada, Japan, India, the United States, and Saudi Arabia were named laureates, sharing a total prize fund of USD 350,000.
The ceremony brought together leading scientists, business representatives, government officials and international partners. Attendees witnessed the formal announcement of the winners and recognized the high level of innovation shaping the future of palladium applications. The event highlighted the global scope of the competition and its role in advancing cutting-edge palladium technologies.
In its first year, the competition received nearly 100 submissions from over 30 countries, covering fields such as traditional and alternative energy, metallurgy, chemistry, nanotechnology, medicine, electronics, and environmental technologies. The International Expert Council evaluated each entry based on scientific novelty, technological feasibility, and industrial applicability.
Winners were recognized in three nominations:
- Best Scientific Developments in New Palladium Applications
- Best Scientific Article in New Palladium Applications
- Best Applied Concept in New Palladium Applications
In the Best Scientific Developments nomination, Distinguished Professor Chao-Jun Li (McGill University, Canada) won first place with a palladium catalyst that converts methane and carbon dioxide into methanol, a key chemical feedstock. This technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions, makes better use of raw materials, and minimizes production waste, creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly process. Second place went to Distinguished Professor Makoto Fujita (University of Tokyo and Institute for Molecular Science, Japan), who developed a novel method for constructing palladium nanostructures. His work opens the door to materials with unique properties for electronics, medicine, and advanced industrial technologies.
In the Best Scientific Article category, Senior Professor Natesan Thirupathi (Delhi University, India) won first place for his research in organopalladium chemistry that accelerates drug development and makes pharmaceutical production greener. Professor Michael Joseph Krische (University of Texas at Austin, USA) took second place for a method that uses palladium simultaneously for hydrogenation and coupling reactions, speeding up the synthesis of vital medical compounds.
The Best Applied Concept award went to Associate Professor Safa Faris Kayed (Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia) for PalladClear, a palladium-based system for wastewater treatment. The device efficiently purifies water, recovers metals for reuse, and reduces environmental impact, which is critical for creating cleaner, safer cities.
"We evaluated not just original ideas, but their real-world impact, where deep scientific insight meets practical implementation. From the very first submissions, it was clear that palladium is moving beyond its traditional uses. We have seen innovations that transform it from a raw material into a strategic, functional resource – ranging from new classes of antimicrobial molecules to precision tools for pharmaceuticals and clean energy. These developments do more than improve existing processes; they create new markets that previously seemed impossible. By recognizing work that combines scientific depth with scalable application, we are setting a standard that can guide global R&D priorities and shape how palladium will be used to tackle the challenges of the coming decades," said Francis Verpoort, Chair of the International Expert Council of the Palladium Global Science Award.
The competition is held with the support of its general partner, the China Precious Metals Industry Committee (CPMIC), as well as Shanghai Metals Market, North-West University (South Africa), and MDX Research Center for Element Strategy (Japan).
The next season of the Palladium Global Science Award will launch in spring 2026. Scientists and engineers worldwide are invited to submit new projects that can transform technology, enhance environmental sustainability, and strengthen the role of palladium in the industry of the future.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Palladium Global Science Award: Hong Kong Hosts Ceremony Honoring the Most Innovative Palladium-Based Technologies
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Two-Day Summit at Rosewood Amsterdam, October 7–8, 2026, to Convene the World's Leading Litigation Funders, Law Firms, General Counsels, and Institutional Investors
AMSTERDAM, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LITFINCON, the global litigation finance conference series created by Silstone Capital, today announced the launch of LITFINCON Europe, a two-day summit bringing the world's most influential litigation finance community together in Amsterdam on October 7–8, 2026. The event will be held at Rosewood Amsterdam, one of the city's most distinguished luxury hotels, marking LITFINCON's formal entry into the European market. The Rosewood Amsterdam provides a fitting backdrop for the conference as the historic building once served as Amsterdam's Palace of Justice – the city's main courthouse. LITFINCON Europe will reestablish this venue as a vibrant hub for legal dialogue and networking.
LITFINCON Europe follows the series' debut events in Houston and the upcoming inaugural Asia edition at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on June 4, 2026. The European edition expands LITFINCON into the world's most dynamic litigation finance regulatory environment, as the UK, EU, and individual member states grapple with transformative questions about disclosure requirements, funder returns, and the future of third-party funding across the continent.
"The regulatory environment is evolving rapidly across the UK and EU, capital is flowing into the space at an unprecedented rate, and the demand for high-quality, senior dialogue has never been higher," said Robert Le, Co-Founder of Siltstone Capital.
Conference Program
Across eleven panels over two days, LITFINCON Europe moves from the macro to the granular — opening with a global market overview before examining the regulatory divergence reshaping how funders, law firms, general counsels, and institutional investors operate across the UK, EU, and US. The program addresses the structural mechanics of European deal-making, including the distinct dynamics of loser-pays cost regimes, ATE insurance integration, and portfolio financing, alongside deep dives into collective redress, international arbitration, and cross-border enforcement.
The second day turns to the investment and innovation questions defining the industry's next chapter: how institutional allocators — pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices — are assessing European litigation finance funds; the convergence of ATE insurance and third-party funding; the Unified Patent Court's emergence as a major new venue for funded IP disputes; and the competitive implications of AI adoption under GDPR and EU AI Act constraints. The conference closes with an unscripted, 75-minute Candid Conversations session — no slides, no prepared remarks — where industry veterans reflect honestly on what Europe gets right, wrong, and differently from the rest of the world.
Venue: Rosewood Amsterdam
Rosewood Amsterdam occupies a series of five interconnected 19th-century palace buildings along the Herengracht, one of Amsterdam's most storied canal rings. Its location in the heart of Amsterdam's historic center positions it as one of Europe's premier settings for high-level conferences and private events.
"LITFINCON has built its reputation on bringing the right people into the right room. The Rosewood hotel in Amsterdam reflects the standard we set for every event in this series — an environment where senior professionals can have honest, substantive conversations away from the noise," said Jim Batson, CIO – Legal Finance, Siltstone Capital.
Sponsorship and Participation
Sponsorship packages, speaking opportunities, and registration for LITFINCON Europe 2026 are now available.
For sponsorship, speaking, and registration for LITFINCON Europe, contact: info@litfincon.com or visit www.litfinconeurope.com.
For sponsorship, speaking, and registration for LITFINCON Asia, contact: info@litfincon.com or visit www.litfinconasia.com
About LITFINCON
LITFINCON is the premier global conference series dedicated to the continued evolution of litigation finance as an institutional asset class. Convening the world's leading funders, law firms, institutional investors, general counsels, and legal minds, LITFINCON serves as the platform for substantive dialogue, capital formation, and strategic connectivity across the global legal finance ecosystem. Created by Siltstone Capital, LITFINCON originated in Houston and has rapidly scaled into a multi-city global series spanning the United States, Asia, and Europe. LITFINCON Asia will take place on June 4, 2026 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and LITFINCON Europe will take place on October 7–8, 2026 at Rosewood Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Media Contact
Jacob Varghese
LITFINCON
info@litfincon.com
www.litfinconeurope.com
www.litfinconasia.com
Two-Day Summit at Rosewood Amsterdam, October 7–8, 2026, to Convene the World's Leading Litigation Funders, Law Firms, General Counsels, and Institutional Investors
AMSTERDAM, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LITFINCON, the global litigation finance conference series created by Silstone Capital, today announced the launch of LITFINCON Europe, a two-day summit bringing the world's most influential litigation finance community together in Amsterdam on October 7–8, 2026. The event will be held at Rosewood Amsterdam, one of the city's most distinguished luxury hotels, marking LITFINCON's formal entry into the European market. The Rosewood Amsterdam provides a fitting backdrop for the conference as the historic building once served as Amsterdam's Palace of Justice – the city's main courthouse. LITFINCON Europe will reestablish this venue as a vibrant hub for legal dialogue and networking.
LITFINCON Europe follows the series' debut events in Houston and the upcoming inaugural Asia edition at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on June 4, 2026. The European edition expands LITFINCON into the world's most dynamic litigation finance regulatory environment, as the UK, EU, and individual member states grapple with transformative questions about disclosure requirements, funder returns, and the future of third-party funding across the continent.
"The regulatory environment is evolving rapidly across the UK and EU, capital is flowing into the space at an unprecedented rate, and the demand for high-quality, senior dialogue has never been higher," said Robert Le, Co-Founder of Siltstone Capital.
Conference Program
Across eleven panels over two days, LITFINCON Europe moves from the macro to the granular — opening with a global market overview before examining the regulatory divergence reshaping how funders, law firms, general counsels, and institutional investors operate across the UK, EU, and US. The program addresses the structural mechanics of European deal-making, including the distinct dynamics of loser-pays cost regimes, ATE insurance integration, and portfolio financing, alongside deep dives into collective redress, international arbitration, and cross-border enforcement.
The second day turns to the investment and innovation questions defining the industry's next chapter: how institutional allocators — pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices — are assessing European litigation finance funds; the convergence of ATE insurance and third-party funding; the Unified Patent Court's emergence as a major new venue for funded IP disputes; and the competitive implications of AI adoption under GDPR and EU AI Act constraints. The conference closes with an unscripted, 75-minute Candid Conversations session — no slides, no prepared remarks — where industry veterans reflect honestly on what Europe gets right, wrong, and differently from the rest of the world.
Venue: Rosewood Amsterdam
Rosewood Amsterdam occupies a series of five interconnected 19th-century palace buildings along the Herengracht, one of Amsterdam's most storied canal rings. Its location in the heart of Amsterdam's historic center positions it as one of Europe's premier settings for high-level conferences and private events.
"LITFINCON has built its reputation on bringing the right people into the right room. The Rosewood hotel in Amsterdam reflects the standard we set for every event in this series — an environment where senior professionals can have honest, substantive conversations away from the noise," said Jim Batson, CIO – Legal Finance, Siltstone Capital.
Sponsorship and Participation
Sponsorship packages, speaking opportunities, and registration for LITFINCON Europe 2026 are now available.
For sponsorship, speaking, and registration for LITFINCON Europe, contact: info@litfincon.com or visit www.litfinconeurope.com.
For sponsorship, speaking, and registration for LITFINCON Asia, contact: info@litfincon.com or visit www.litfinconasia.com
About LITFINCON
LITFINCON is the premier global conference series dedicated to the continued evolution of litigation finance as an institutional asset class. Convening the world's leading funders, law firms, institutional investors, general counsels, and legal minds, LITFINCON serves as the platform for substantive dialogue, capital formation, and strategic connectivity across the global legal finance ecosystem. Created by Siltstone Capital, LITFINCON originated in Houston and has rapidly scaled into a multi-city global series spanning the United States, Asia, and Europe. LITFINCON Asia will take place on June 4, 2026 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and LITFINCON Europe will take place on October 7–8, 2026 at Rosewood Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Media Contact
Jacob Varghese
LITFINCON
info@litfincon.com
www.litfinconeurope.com
www.litfinconasia.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
LITFINCON Announces European Debut: Global Litigation Finance Conference Series Comes to Amsterdam
