Sixto Malato, a researcher at CIESOL, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award in Technology Transfer at the 7th CIPOA

Sixto Malato Rodríguez, a researcher at CIESOL and Research Professor at CIEMAT at the Almería Solar Platform, has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Technology Transfer at the 7th Ibero-American Congress on Advanced Oxidation Processes (CIPOA 2026), held in Quito, Ecuador, for his contribution to the development and application of advanced technologies for water treatment.

The award was granted in the “Distinguished Career in Implementation and Technology Transfer” category, one of the most prestigious senior awards at the conference. This award highlights not only the scientific excellence of the researchers but also their ability to translate knowledge generated in laboratories into real-world solutions that have an impact on society, industry, and public administrations.

The distinction recognizes a career spanning several decades dedicated to the development of advanced oxidation technologies applied to water treatment, reuse, and regeneration. From the Almería Solar Platform, Sixto Malato has become an international leader in solar decontamination processes, particularly in the field of photocatalysis and solar photo-Fenton treatments, making a decisive contribution to demonstrating their viability on a pilot and industrial scale.

Throughout his career, he has led and participated in numerous national and international projects focused on both fundamental research and technology transfer. His work has resulted in patented developments and innovative solutions for water treatment, the product of close collaboration with universities, research centers, companies, and public agencies.

The Ibero-American Conference on Advanced Oxidation Processes (CIPOA), established in 2013, has established itself as the leading Ibero-American scientific forum dedicated to advanced oxidation technologies. At its seventh edition, held at the National Polytechnic School in Quito, researchers and professionals discussed the latest advances in water, air, and soil treatment, as well as new applications related to the energy transition and climate change mitigation.

As a researcher at CIESOL, a joint center of the University of Almería and CIEMAT, Sixto Malato has made a decisive contribution to strengthening the international leadership of both institutions in the field of solar technologies for water treatment. His work exemplifies how research excellence can translate into effective solutions to address global environmental challenges.

At CIESOL, we would like to congratulate Sixto Malato on this well-deserved international recognition, which highlights an exemplary career dedicated to the development of advanced water treatment technologies and the translation of scientific knowledge into solutions with real-world impact. This award is a source of pride for the entire center and reinforces the leadership of CIESOL and the Almería Solar Platform as international leaders in research, innovation, and environmental sustainability.