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Susumu KITAGAWA, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, visited National Central University (NCU) on September 5 to deliver a keynote lecture at MOF Taiwan 2026 and unveil a “Nobel Bench” created in his honor.
KITAGAWA visited Taiwan at the invitation of the Ministry of Education. On September 4, representing Kyoto University, he signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry’s Youth Development Administration. The following day, under arrangements by the University Alliance in Talent Education Development (UAiTED), he visited NCU, where he delivered a keynote lecture at MOF Taiwan 2026 and took part in the unveiling of a “Nobel Bench ” dedicated in his honor.
KITAGAWA , Vice-President of Kyoto University, is internationally recognized for his research on organic–inorganic hybrid compounds and the chemical and physical properties of porous coordination polymers. In 2025, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne and Omar M. Yaghi of the University of California, Berkeley, for their pioneering work on the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs).
NCU President Hsiau, Shu-San said KITAGAWA ’s emphasis on curiosity and the pursuit of scientific truth as the foundations of research offers valuable inspiration to young scholars. NCU’s tradition of creating “Nobel Bench ” honors distinguished scholars who visit the university. Each chair bears the scholar’s name, symbolizing the passing on of knowledge and intellectual legacy. Hsiau expressed the hope that students and faculty would continue to “stand on the shoulders of giants” and see further.
Professor Shieh Fa-Kuen of NCU’s Department of Chemistry, chair of MOF Taiwan 2026, noted that KITAGAWA has maintained close ties with Taiwan’s academic community over the years and has made significant contributions to academic exchange between Taiwan and Japan.
