Alexandra Knauer Wins 2026 Pittcon Heritage Award for Scientific Innovation
Alexandra Knauer, managing partner of Berlin-based KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH, has been awarded the 2026 Pittcon Heritage Award. The prestigious honour recognises her contributions to instrumental analytics and laboratory sciences. As part of the award, she will be inducted into the Pittcon Hall of Fame.
The Pittcon Heritage Award is given annually at the Pittcon Conference and Expo. It celebrates individuals who have made a lasting impact on scientific instrumentation and lab technology. This year's ceremony took place in San Antonio, Texas.
Alexandra Knauer could not attend in person due to a denied U.S. visa. Instead, she delivered a video address, thanking the organisers and sharing recent company achievements. These included the launch of a new 3-in-1 liquid chromatography detector system and plans for a modular oligonucleotide synthesizer.
Dr. Markus Fuchs, a 30-year KNAUER employee, accepted the award on her behalf. In her speech, Knauer dedicated the honour to her late father, Dr. Herbert Knauer, who co-founded the company in 1962. Under her leadership, KNAUER has expanded from HPLC systems into FPLC and lipid nanoparticle production technologies.
David A. Cole, CEO of the Science History Institute, praised Knauer's entrepreneurial vision and commitment to scientific innovation. He also highlighted her socially responsible approach to business leadership. The company remains a family-run enterprise, now in its second generation.
The award underscores Knauer's role in advancing laboratory instrumentation and maintaining KNAUER's position as a leader in scientific technology. Her work continues to influence both research and industry standards. The Pittcon Hall of Fame induction further cements her legacy in the field.
