- Fundación Banco Santander has sponsored nine editions of the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent award. Today, the winner of the ninth edition has received his award: Prof. Emilio Martínez-Pañeda.
- Prof Martínez-Pañeda was awarded the 2024 SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent award for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of mechanics of materials, with applications in hydrogen transport, corrosion control, and renewable energies.
- The Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU) and Fundación Banco Santander keep their joint mission of supporting young Spanish researchers with an outstanding scientific career in the United Kingdom, which in turn promotes new collaborations between academic institutions and enterprises both from Spain and the UK.

London, 2nd December 2024. This Monday, the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award ceremony took place at the Spanish Embassy in London, recognising the outstanding contributions to research of Prof Martínez-Pañeda, winner of the 2024 edition. The SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award, which this year celebrates its 9th edition, is part of the collaboration between the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) and the Fundación Banco Santander.
The award ceremony featured the presence of His Excellency Mr José Pascual Marco Martínez, Ambassador of Spain to the UK; Mr Borja Baselga, General Manager of the Fundación Banco Santander; and Dr Javier Pardo Díaz, President of SRUK/CERU. During the reception, Mr Borja Baselga remarked that initiatives like this are vital to recognizing talent and fostering opportunities in research.
Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s research interest is focused on understanding and predicting how materials behave under extreme conditions. His team employs advanced computer simulations to make structures safer and more durable, particularly in harsh environments. Discoveries in Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s lab are helping to develop better ways to store and transport hydrogen safely, extend the life of wind turbines, and create more efficient batteries. These innovations could have far-reaching impacts on renewable energy, transportation, and many other industries. His extraordinary contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious accolades, including the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering Young Engineer of the Year award and Imperial’s President Medal for Excellence in Research. Prof. Martínez-Pañeda has also secured over £5 million in research funding, including an ERC Starting Grant from the European Commission and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. Receiving this award, Prof. Martínez-Pañeda expressed gratitude for the support that initiatives like the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award provide to early-career researchers, helping to amplify their impact and foster innovation.

With the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award, SRUK/CERU supports and gives visibility to early career Spanish scientists carrying out their research in the United Kingdom, while promoting collaborations between these two countries. Dr Javier Pardo-Diaz, President of SRUK/CERU, stated that “this award showcases the incredible talent and contributions of Spanish researchers in the UK, fostering a strong bridge of collaboration and knowledge exchange between both nations”.
For media enquiries, please contact Dr Carlos Outeiral, Roving Director of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) at [email protected]