GPCh

The Grand Prix Chimique was founded in 1991 in Stuttgart, Germany. The initiative was launched by Wolfgang Flad from the Institut Dr. Flad with the goal of creating a high-level practical chemistry competition for vocational students across Europe.

Since then, GPCh has grown into a well-established, biennial event, hosted each time by a different participating country, usually between September-October.

Recent and Upcoming Editions

• 2019 – Debrecen, Hungary
• 2021 – Bratislava, Slovakia
• 2023 – Zagreb, Croatia
• 2025 – Dornbirn, Austria
• 2027 – Planned: Lausanne, Switzerland (18th GPCh)

Over the years, the Swiss team has actively participated in GPCh, contributing to the competition’s high technical level and strong international spirit. Photo galleries from past editions showcase:

History of the Grand Prix Chimique in pictures

The competition is organized every two years by the Ministry of Education or an equivalent official institution of the host country. Additional institutions and industrial partners may support the event as sponsors.

• Preliminary information is sent to countries that participated in the previous edition.
• Official invitations are issued by November preceding the competition year.
• Participating countries must formally confirm their participation according to the organizer’s requirements.

Delegation Composition

Each participating country may send:

• Up to 2 competitors
• Up to 2 accompanying persons:
  • One mentor (head of delegation)
  • One juror

Competitor Eligibility

Competitors must:

• Be students in, or recently graduated from, a vocational school with a chemical orientation
• Not have completed their first semester at a university or technical college in chemistry
• Be under 23 years old on the first day of the competition
• Not be professionally employed in chemical tasks after vocational training
• have minimum B2 level in English (during the competition, all documentation will be in English) 

Role of the Mentor

The mentor:

• Ensures all eligibility criteria are met
• Evaluates and corrects student work
• Participates in the International Jury
• May submit formal protests to the Jury Chair

The GPCh focuses on practical laboratory skills, including:

• Analytical chemistry tasks
• Preparative and organic chemistry experiments

The competition is designed to reflect real professional laboratory work, ensuring equal and fair conditions for all participants.

The hosting organization provides:

• The official competition program and timetable
• Transportation on arrival and departure days (from/to a nearby airport or station)
• Full accommodation (food and lodging) for competitors, mentors, and jury members
• Accommodation for accompanying persons
• A guide for each team
• Access to laboratories and equipment prior to the competition
• Accident insurance during the official program
• Compliance with all safety regulations
• Medals, prizes, and certificates
• A chemistry-related and cultural program where possible

The organizer must also guarantee:

• Proper preparation of tasks and laboratories
• Equal competition conditions
• Suitable working conditions for the International Jury

• Participating countries cover return travel costs to the designated airport or competition venue.
• The organizer covers:
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Local transportation
  • Competition-related program costs
• One observer from the next hosting country may attend at the host’s expense.
• Other observers and accompanying persons cover their own costs.
• For International Committee meetings, board and lodging are covered by the organizer, while travel costs remain the responsibility of the participating country.

GPCh also offers a rich social and cultural experience, including excursions, ceremonies, and opportunities for international exchange. These aspects are an essential part of the event and highly valued by participants.

Coming soon…