[American Chemical Society](https://www.acs.org)

February 1, 2026 (Nomination submission deadline)

Recognition award; no monetary prize. Annual in-person ceremony for winners.

Honors teams of industrial chemical scientists whose innovations led to commercial products benefiting society.

--- ## Description The award recognizes teams of industrial chemical scientists, engineers, and allied professionals whose work has resulted in the successful commercialization of products that benefit humankind. Established by the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1996, this annual honor celebrates creativity, technical excellence, and the positive societal impact of chemistry-driven innovations. Winners are recognized at an in-person award ceremony and highlighted for their contributions to modern life through advancements in chemistry. --- ## Due Dates - February 1, 2026: Nomination submission deadline (end of 2026 nomination period) All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates. --- ## Funding Amount - This is a recognition award with no direct monetary prize. - Winners are honored at an annual in-person ceremony hosted by ACS. --- ## Eligibility - **Nominators:** Any individual from a private or publicly owned for-profit company may nominate a team. - **Nominees:** - Teams (more than one person) involved in the development of a commercial product with significant human impact. - At least one team member must be an active ACS member. - Eligible team members include chemists, chemical engineers, or allied professionals from companies, government or academic labs, incubators, or other organizations. - Former and deceased employees may be included in the nomination. - **Other:** - Employees of Corporation Associates member companies may not serve on the Award Selection Committee in years when their company is nominated. --- ## Application Process - Create an account in the [online nomination system](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=acs). - Select “Apply” and then “2026 Heroes of Chemistry Nominations” to begin. - Prepare and submit the required nomination materials (see below). - You may edit your nomination until the February 1, 2026 deadline. Only submitted applications are considered. - Required nomination materials: - Descriptive summary of the product’s commercial use, benefit to humanity, chemistry’s role, and nominee involvement. - Impact summary (market, societal, and economic impact). - Short biography or resume/CV (max. two pages per nominee). - Supporting materials (brochures, articles, press releases, etc. are encouraged). - [Nominee contact form](https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/funding/awards/industry/heroes/nominee-information-form.xlsx) for each team member, including indication of ACS membership. --- ## Additional Information - Selection is made by a panel from the ACS Committee on Corporation Associates, based on: - Technical merit of the innovation. - Evidence of commercial and financial success. - Positive human impact of the product. - The number of awards varies each year. - Winners and company executives are invited to a black-tie dinner ceremony. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Nomination Instructions](https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding/awards/heroes-of-chemistry.html) - [Online Nomination System](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=acs) - [Nominee Contact Form (Excel)](https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/funding/awards/industry/heroes/nominee-information-form.xlsx) - [Past Recipients](https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/heroes-of-chemistry/past-recipients.html) - [ACS Committee on Corporation Associates](https://www.acs.org/about/governance/committees/corporation-associates.html) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Email | [chemhero@acs.org](mailto:chemhero@acs.org) | | ACS Contact Page | [https://www.acs.org/contact.html](https://www.acs.org/contact.html) | | Phone (ACS main) | +1 800-227-5558 |

Heroes of Chemistry - American Chemical Society

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