Mário Murakami was awarded for his contribution to the energy transition and the development of sustainable bio-based solutions
Researcher from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Mário Murakami was announced this Friday (28) as the winner of the FCW Science Prize, granted by the Conrado Wessel Foundation, an institution dedicated to supporting science, culture, and the arts in Brazil. In this edition, the award recognizes a prominent Brazilian scientific figure with outstanding work in the field of energy transition. The award ceremony will be held at the end of October in São Paulo.
Mario Murakami has been part of CNPEM’s scientific community since 2018, leading a research group that focuses on biocatalysis and synthetic biology.
Director of the Biorenewables unit at CNPEM and president of the Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio), Murakami has been working in the field of biotechnology since 2008. His research investigates molecular mechanisms and microbial systems of Brazilian biodiversity to develop sustainable biofactories and biotechnological routes capable of transforming plant biomass and agro-industrial waste into biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials.
“Receiving this award is a great honor and reinforces the contribution of Brazilian science to the challenges of the energy transition and a low-carbon economy. Brazil has enormous potential to develop sustainable solutions by connecting its unique assets such as its biodiversity, established biomass production capacity, and the expertise and pioneering spirit of its researchers in bioenergy and agriculture. CNPEM, associated with the national research ecosystem, is part of this trajectory, where I was able to generate scientific knowledge and transform it into technologies and innovation for the development of the country. I share this recognition with everyone who was and continues to be part of this story”, says Mário Murakami.
Murakami leads studies focused on strategic challenges related to bioenergy, bioeconomy, and low-carbon technologies. The research covers topics such as the depolymerization of agro-industrial waste and microbial bioconversion, contributing to the replacement of fossil-based raw materials with renewable and low-carbon alternatives. Among the initiatives coordinated by the researcher is the FAPESP Research Program on Energy Transition, which aims to contribute to the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge through scientific, technological, and innovative approaches focused on transforming energy and production systems towards a low-carbon, resilient, competitive, and socially inclusive economy.
The biotechnological platforms developed under his leadership are tested on a pilot scale and adapted, in partnership with the production sector, to different applications. Among them is OpEn, the first national technology for the production of enzymes aimed at the bioindustry. Developed from byproducts of the sugarcane and energy sector, the enzymatic cocktail has already been disseminated in dozens of Brazilian institutions and is used by organizations in more than ten countries.
Another noteworthy result is the leadership in research that culminated in the discovery of a new class of enzyme from Brazilian microbial biodiversity, which presents a highly efficient mechanism in the bioconversion of cellulose. Published in the journal Nature, the study opens up new possibilities for making the use of plant biomass more efficient in the production of biofuels and other renewable products, contributing to the replacement of raw materials of fossil origin.
In addition to his scientific production, Murakami stands out for coordinating nationwide programs that bring together universities, research institutes, and companies to address challenges related to the bioeconomy, biorenewables, and the energy transition. These initiatives seek to strengthen Brazilian technological sovereignty and expand the country’s participation in the development of sustainable, bio-based solutions.
On the international scene, Murakami is a member of advisory boards for global bioeconomy initiatives and contributes conceptual articles and perspective analyzes to journals such as Nature Chemical Biology and Nature Biotechnology. He was also elected by the scientific community to chair, in 2029, the Gordon Research Conference on Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes for Glycan Conversions.
The Judging Committee for the FCW Science Prize was chaired by representatives of institutions such as the ABC (Brazilian Academy of Sciences), Fapesp (São Paulo Research Foundation), and Fiocruz-Bahia. In 2025, the FCW Science Prize was awarded to Mercedes Bustamante, professor at the University of Brasília and researcher of native vegetation in central Brazil.
