Miha JAPELJ

Professor Japelj has dedicated most of his life, that is, from the year 1962, to Novo Mesto, Slovenia. He has been an initiator and proponent of mutual cooperation between industry, universities, the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Slovenian Academy of Engineering, and R&D institutes in Slovenia and abroad. He is the author of many international patents and technologies to synthesize pharmaceutically active substances like a semisynthetic antibiotic, penicillin, tetracyclines, quinolone chemotherapeutics, nifedipine, enalapril maleate, etc. He also developed the industrial extraction of pyrethrum. He has extensive experience of mutual collaboration with many important chemists from the whole world as well as with chemists from the former Yugoslavia. He is also the author or co-author of 86 patents. Together with the famous manager of Krka, Boris Andrijanič, Dr. Japelj established in the year 1971 the KRKA PRIZE Foundation. In the 49 years since, 2825 Krka awards have been granted to students from Slovenia and other countries. Dr. Japelj recently became the Honorary President of the Krka Prize Foundation.

Buliding of Krka’s plant for the fermentation of tetracycline antibiotics from the year 1970.

1935 born in Ljubljana, Sloveniji

1959 Degree in chemical engineering, UL

1959-1962 Employed in textile factories

1960-2003 Employed in Krka, Pharmaceutical Works, Novo mesto, Slovenia

1964 Master’s of Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana

1969 Doctorate in organic chemistry, University of Ljubljana

1973 Assistant professor, University of Ljubljana

1979 Associate professor, University of Ljubljana

1984 Full professor, University of Ljubljana

2003 Retired

Important Works

Professor Japelj has dedicated his professional career to research work in Krka. He is author of 80 patents for the synthesis of antibiotics, quinolines, ACE inhibitors, antivirals, etc. He also developed the industrial extraction of pyrethrum. In 1971 together with Boris Andrijanič he established the Krka Prizes Foundation to grant awards t o young students’ research work. Dr. Japelj is Honorary President of the Krka Prizes Foundation.

Selected Awards

1986 Boris Kidrič Foundation Award

1973–1999 10 Boris Kidrič Foundation awards

2007 Honorary Citizen of Novo mesto Municipality, Slovenia

2011 Honorary Citizen of Trebnje Municipality, Slovenia

2017 Prometeus of the Science