Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol6-1 > Offering stimulation and support

It is no exaggeration to say that the chemical sciences and their deployment by industry are vital to the future of this country. They represent a large economic force in many quarters of the economy and also underpin solutions to many of the challenges facing society today. The UK cannot lead technologically and commercially in all sectors of the chemical science industry; key areas have to be identified and resources prioritised to nurture chemistry innovation where the UK can excel.

Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network (Chemistry Innovation) was formed in response to a number of challenges: the low level of chemistry innovation in the industry, the fragmented nature of organisations promoting knowledge transfer and the absence of a coherent industry voice and the consequent strategic vacuum that arose. It is an industry-led initiative backed by the Technology Strategy Board that is addressing these points.

Our mission is to stimulate and support product and process chemistry innovation that will deliver tangible value for the UK chemistry-using industries. Our overall objective is to accelerate the rate of chemistry innovation and knowledge transfer into and with UK businesses. The strategy that underpins our mission is to:

• Develop a fundamental understanding of the market drivers and industry challenges facing our stakeholders.
• Develop a coherent national strategy and action plan owned by key stakeholders committed to its delivery.
• Ensure alignment of Chemistry Innovation activities and delivery programmes with the platforms identified in the Technology Strategy Board?s strategic plan, relevant EU programmes and the strategic programmes of our key partner organisations.
• Establish unique networking opportunities that link all organisations serving the chemistry innovation and using industries ? providing focus and prioritising activity.
• Drive partnerships and collaborations with other organisations to provide a national support framework.
• Identify, broker and support collaborative projects in chemistry innovation across stakeholder boundaries.
• Provide a coherent/influential voice to government ? informing and advising on the technology needs of the sector and issues that enhance/inhibit innovation.

Chemistry Innovation operates at the centre of an important UK network with a broad remit to drive improved chemistry innovation performance through knowledge transfer, across a diverse range of industries. The establishment and development of strategic connections amongst those organisations that are affiliated with, or represented, the chemistry-using industries is therefore a critically important feature of how we help industry deliver improved chemistry innovation performance.

Chemistry Innovation has established a clear operating model to ensure that all our activities are aligned with global market drives and industry need and that our delivery programmes are measured both in terms of tangible and intangible benefits. As a result of our work over the past three years, we have delivered a value to UK plc in excess of £700m, with a target for the next three years of £1.2bn

For more information,
contact Maureen Laughton on:
Tel: 01928 515662
Website: www.chemistryinnovation.co.uk