Palladium Future Forum 2026 announces full programme and speaker line-up
Published on 9 November 2026
The Palladium Future Forum has announced the full programme and list of speakers for its inaugural event, which will take place in Seoul this November. A diverse line-up will cover the latest developments in palladium technologies across key industries and bring together representatives of science, business and government. Technology innovators, industry leaders, research institutions and market analysts will explore the role of strategic materials in shaping future technologies, with a focus on advancing scientific research into commercial use and popularizing next-generation technologies.
Established this year by the Palladium Global Science Award, the Forum will be held under the theme of Strategic Materials and Future Technologies: Palladium in the Global Innovation Landscape. The event will include presentations, case studies and panel discussions on the international collaboration needed to accelerate the development and commercialization of palladium-based technologies. The Palladium Global Science Award received over 150 submissions in its second year, and the Palladium Future Forum 2026 programme was curated following an extensive review of the leading areas of palladium research today.
Hydrogen energy is one of the most important fields in palladium research, particularly in purification and catalysis. The programme will feature presentations from Berbetin founder Dr. Verónica Bermúdez Benito on photovoltaics and hydrogen systems, and from Professor Patrik Schmuki on palladium photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. Professor Sebastian Thomas was named runner-up in the Best Scientific Article nomination of this year’s Palladium Global Science Award for his research into atomic hydrogen and palladium using microelectrode techniques. He will present his investigation into the release of atomic hydrogen from palladium surfaces, a novel study with potential applications in hydrogen sensing, energy conversion and corrosion control.
Palladium has vast potential in cutting-edge healthcare, and this will be the focus of a number of presentations. Professor Richard Y. Liu of Harvard University will present his research on palladium’s role in medicinal chemistry and drug manufacture using novel cross-coupling reactions, while Professor Mark Bradley of Queen Mary University in London will discuss his research into palladium’s potential applications in chemical biology. AI is another growing area of palladium research, and Professor Chang Yun Son of Seoul National University will give a presentation on how AI can be used to assist in nanomaterials design.
Solar power, energy storage, green technology and electronics offer wide-ranging opportunities for the commercial development of new palladium technologies, and will also feature on the programme. The five prize winners of the Palladium Global Science Award will participate in the winners’ project pitch session, where they will discuss their palladium applications.
Additionally, projects submitted to this year’s Palladium Global Science Award are eligible for the PGSA Accelerator, a new programme supporting some of the most promising new ideas in palladium applications. The Accelerator helps researchers develop their innovations from early-stage science to industrial rollout, connecting them to experts, decision-makers and the industry partners who can bring their ideas from the laboratory to the market.
Vivian Shu, Director of Partnerships & Strategic Development, Palladium Global Science Award: “Developing new applications for palladium requires a wide range of expertise, resources and capabilities – no organisation can bring them all together on its own. Through the Palladium Future Forum, we aim to create opportunities for researchers, technology developers and industry leaders to identify shared interests, explore potential partnerships and move promising ideas forward.”
The Palladium Future Forum will take place in Seoul, South Korea, on 19 November 2026. The Forum will be followed by a gala ceremony where the five winners, who will share a $350,000 prize fund, will receive their awards in person.
Registration of interest is now open to participants, speakers, partners and supporting organizations.
Contacts:
Partnerships & Strategic Development
Vivian Shu
vs@palladiumaward.com
Participation & General Inquiries
Carolyn Li
cl@palladiumaward.com