The Gothenburg Physics Centre's Lise Meitner Award 2026 is awarded to Dr. Masato Sagawa for the discovery of sintered Nd–Fe–B permanent magnets, a breakthrough that transformed magnetic materials and laid the foundation for several of today's energy-efficient technologies.
“It is a great honor and a source of great joy for me to receive such a prestigious award,” says Dr. Masato Sagawa, who will be visiting Chalmers on September 10 to receive the award and give the traditional Lise Meitner lecture.
Dr. Sagawa made the decisive physics-based leap that enabled high-performance, anisotropic Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets. By introducing boron into the material, he demonstrated how the iron lattice could be modified to strengthen ferromagnetic exchange, leading to the Nd₂Fe₁₄B compound. Combining exceptionally high magnetization with strong magnetic anisotropy, the material became the basis for the world's most powerful permanent magnets. He also established the high-performance processing route based on powder metallurgy and grain alignment.
Today, Nd–Fe–B magnets underpin modern electrification through high-efficiency motors and generators used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. They have also played a crucial role in the development of information technology, enabling compact and high-performance hard disk drive actuators and motors.
When he developed the magnets in the early 1980s, Sagawa could not foresee the enormous technological impact they would have.
“No, I did not imagine such a big development at first. I noticed the impacts of my discovery and invention step by step.”
Despite the transformative impact of his work, the path to the discovery was far from straightforward. One of the key scientific challenges was turning a promising alloy into a true permanent magnet with sufficient coercivity.
“I probably found a basic compound consisting of Nd, Fe and B, but I couldn't confirm it. The challenge was to give the alloy the coercivity of a permanent magnet,” Sagawa recalls.
Rather than a single breakthrough moment, he describes the discovery as the culmination of persistent effort and incremental progress.
“I think that my discovery was the result of many small steps.”
His fascination with science began at an early age. Inspired by a dream of becoming a great scientist, he pursued doctoral studies and spent decades working with magnetic materials.
“Although I wasn't able to become a world-leading scientist in any of the fields I was interested in, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to invent NdFeB permanent magnets. I am now dedicating everything I have to the development of NdFeB magnets, he says.
Looking back on his career, Sagawa emphasizes the importance of building a strong scientific foundation while maintaining the courage to pursue independent ideas.
“After obtaining your doctorate, join an existing research group and contribute to its research while searching for your own unique topic. Once you find a good topic, become independent and immerse yourself in your own research. Universities and research institutions that allow this kind of approach can achieve great results.”
Dr. Sagawa was nominated for the Gothenburg Lise Meitner Award by Johan Åkerman of the University of Gothenburg.
The Lise Meitner ceremony will take place at 15.15 on September 10, and The Gothenburg Lise Meitner Award 2026 Symposium will take place between 09 – 17 on September 11. Both events take place in Kollektorn at Chalmers.