Prashanth Menezes awarded prestigious VAIBHAV Fellowship by Government of India
Dr. Prashanth Menezes is head of the Department of Materials Chemistry for Catalysis at HZB. He is the sole recipient of the VAIBHAV Fellowship in the Materials and Processing Technologies category in 2025 — a distinction that demonstrates his pioneering contributions to materials chemistry and catalysis. © Michael Setzpfandt / HZB
The Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, has announced the recipients of the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship, a flagship initiative aimed at fostering collaboration between the Indian STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) diaspora and leading research institutions in India. Among the 2025 awardees is Dr. Prashanth W. Menezes, Head of the Department of Materials Chemistry for Catalysis at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB).
Prashanth Menezes is the only awardee in the field of Materials and Processing Technologies this year, recognized for his outstanding contributions to catalysis and materials chemistry.
The VAIBHAV Fellowship, implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), aims to strengthen collaboration between the global Indian STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) diaspora and Indian research institutions. The initiative builds on the success of the VAIBHAV Summit, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which brought together over 25,000 participants from more than 70 countries.
As part of the fellowship, Menezes will collaborate with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, to establish intermetallic electrocatalysts for scaled green hydrogen production coupled with the synthesis of value-added chemicals. This initiative aims to advance sustainable energy research and promote eco-friendly hydrogen technologies.
“The VAIBHAV Fellowship provides an exciting opportunity to combine international expertise with India’s rapidly growing research ecosystem,” said Menezes. “Our goal is to contribute meaningfully to the global transition toward sustainable and clean energy.”
Prashanth Menezes is recognized for his contributions to intermetallic catalysis, electrocatalytic processes, and sustainable energy conversion systems. His research has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of catalyst design and reaction mechanisms for renewable energy applications. Menezes’ selection highlights India’s continued commitment to fostering innovation and scientific excellence through global partnerships.
- A New Era in Catalysis: ASCEND Launch in Berlin, €30 Million in FundingOn 11 June 2026, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) in Adlershof hosted the launch of ASCEND (Accelerated Solutions for Catalysis using Emerging Nanotechnology and Digital Innovation). The event took place in the presence of the Minister of Research, Dorothee Bär, President of the Helmholtz Association, Prof. Dr. Martin Keller, and President of the Max Planck Society, Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer. Bringing together leading partners from industry and research, ASCEND is supported by BMFTR with €30 million in funding and officially started on 1 April 2026. The initiative aims to accelerate the discovery of next-generation catalysts and enable more sustainable chemical processes.
- VOLT – Art in the shell of the HZB from 19 to 21 June 2026An extraordinary setting: from 19 to 21 June, artists and students from the Berlin University of the Arts will be exhibiting in the shell of the services building on the HZB campus in Berlin-Adlershof. The public is warmly invited to attend the three-day exhibition.
- Thank you for a fantastic Long Night of Science!On 6 June 2026, we opened our doors once again for the Long Night of Science. With 3,100 visitors, BESSY II welcomed 500 more people than last time. We would like to thank everyone for their interest! We captured the best moments of the evening in the photo gallery.