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Stefano Napolitano honoured with international award for sustainable materials research

Stefano Napolitano has been awarded the Stellantis Student Award 2026 for his master’s thesis, which was carried out at the Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering at Åbo Akademi University in collaboration with the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy.

In his thesis, Napolitano investigated the cycloaddition of carbon dioxide with limonene diepoxide, a compound derived from limonene – a natural substance found in citrus peels. The resulting product can be used in the development of more sustainable plastic materials. The research findings were published in the scientific journal Chemical Engineering Journal.

“It was a particular honour to receive this award from John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Tapio Salmi and Dr Federica Orabona for their invaluable guidance, support and encouragement throughout this journey. Their contribution has been fundamental to both my academic and professional growth. I am also very grateful to Åbo Akademi University for the opportunity to conduct the research for my master’s thesis in Turku and for providing me with such a valuable international academic experience,” says Stefano Napolitano.

The Stellantis Student Awards is an international programme that recognises academic achievements and projects related to the future of mobility and sustainable development. The programme is organised by Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.

The award also highlights the international research environment that has been built up at Åbo Akademi University’s Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering.