This program focuses on the molecular basis of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis relevant to the development of clean and sustainable processes for the production of energy, fuels and chemicals. Molecular surface chemistry based on methods from inter alia inorganic chemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy, computational chemistry, surface science and chemical technology are used to design novel and improved catalytic processes for valorization of existing and renewable feedstocks. The research aims towards the conceptual description of catalysis at a molecular level, the predictability of the catalytic reactivity, and the design of reactions.