Press Release

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025

ZEISS congratulates Professor Susumu Kitagawa

17 October 2025

Jena, Germany | 17 October 2025 | ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

ZEISS congratulates Professor Susumu Kitagawa, Director of the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) at Kyoto University, on receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025.

Together with Richard Robson (Australia) and Omar Yaghi (USA), Professor Kitagawa was honored for pioneering research on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – a revolutionary class of porous materials with applications in carbon capture, clean energy, and drug delivery.

Senior Director Dr. Bernhard Zimmermann and President & CEO Dr. Michael Albiez from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, together with iCeMS Director Prof. Susumu Kitagawa and Deputy Director Prof. Mineko Kengaku at the Opening of the ZEISS-iCeMS Innovation Core in 2019. — Opening of the ZEISS-iCeMS Innovation Core in 2019.
Left to right: Senior Director Dr. Bernhard Zimmermann and President & CEO Dr. Michael Albiez from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, together with iCeMS Director Prof. Susumu Kitagawa and Deputy Director Prof. Mineko Kengaku.

A long-standing partnership

ZEISS has collaborated with iCeMS for many years. In 2019, this partnership led to the establishment of the ZEISS-iCeMS Innovation Core – a joint research and development center at Kyoto University. Here, Professor Kitagawa’s team uses ZEISS field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM) and focused ion beam systems (FIB-SEM) daily to investigate MOF structures at the nanoscale.

“We are both happy and proud that ZEISS microscopes once again empowered brilliant scientists in their pursuit of significant discoveries that earn them Nobel Prizes”, said Dr. Michael Albiez, President & CEO of Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH.

The Innovation Core continues to develop next-generation imaging technologies while providing researchers across Kyoto University with access to cutting-edge ZEISS microscopy platforms.

Press Contact Vybhav Sinha ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology company in the optics and optoelectronics industry. The ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling around 11 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (updated: 30 September 2024).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for life sciences and materials research, as well as medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Industry 4.0 as well as a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping technological progress and, through its solutions, is extending the horizon of the world of optics and associated areas. ZEISS' significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 14% of its revenue in research and development work – ZEISS has a long tradition of high expenditure in these areas. This also represents the company's investment in the future.

With more than 46,500 employees, ZEISS operates in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service sites, 40 research and development sites and 35 production sites worldwide (as of 31 March 2025). The headquarters of the company, which was founded in Jena in 1846, is located in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of Germany’s largest foundations committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is the leading provider of light, electron, X-ray microscope systems, correlative microscopy and software solutions leveraging AI technologies. The portfolio comprises of products and services for life sciences, materials and industrial research, as well as education and clinical routine applications. The unit is headquartered in Jena. Additional production and development sites are located in Germany, UK, USA, China and Switzerland. ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is part of the Industrial Quality & Research segment.

Further information at www.zeiss.com/microscopy