AllChemE Report: "Chemistry - Europe & the Future" - Graphical version

Summary

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Every day of our lives chemistry and chemical engineering touches each one of us. These sciences help to feed us, clothe us, house us, heal us and even entertain us (CDs, tapes and videos are all made from chemicals). These human benefits need not be achieved at the expense of the environment: visit a modern chemical plant and you will be amazed at the care which is taken to preserve the environment, how little pollution is caused and how safe working conditions are. The people employed there are proud of what they have achieved.

1. The chemical industry in Europe is a world-leader: six out of the top 10 chemical companies in the world are located in Europe. The industry receives no subsidies, and consists of large multinational, medium-sized and small businesses, all imbued with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
   
   
2. Europe's chemical industry contributes more than 30 billion ecu to Europe's trade balance and generates a turnover of more than 300 billion ecu from small, medium and large companies. This amounts to nearly 1000 ecu for every man, woman and child in Europe. The industry spends nearly 20 billion ecu on research and technical development and employs 1.65 million people, with many more employed in related economic activities.
   
   
3. A globally competitive chemical industry is vital for Europe's future prosperity. Governments are responsible for providing and maintaining the necessary supportive climate which makes Europe an attractive base. Europe's leading role in this field relies on the continuing support of excellence in training and research in both chemistry and chemical engineering.
   
   
4. Government support, whether at national or European level, is essential to foster innovation in industry. That support should be focused on achieving two equally important goals. First, governments must ensure that there is a strong public sector research and education base at all levels, providing industry with access to leading-edge research expertise and the highly trained manpower which is the lifeblood of a technology-based industry. Second, governments must make every effort to ensure that the climate in which companies operate (legal, regulatory, fiscal and social) supports those which innovate and encourages others to improve their innovative performance.
   
   
5. Chemistry and chemical engineering, key disciplines in their own right, are essential partners with many other sciences. Training in these disciplines takes place in Europe's universities and research institutes, long the source of new, 'pattern-breaking' ideas for industry. These ideas are generated mainly through the medium of exploratory research, sometimes in collaboration with industry. The emphasis is on quality and excellence within the research environment. A strong wealth-creating base requires sustained university funding for both training and research roles.
   
   
6. University and research institute chemistry laboratories need effective instrument provision: through local, national and supranational facilities (infrastructure). They also need modern laboratories, equipped to modern safety standards, to conform to best practice in the training of researchers.
   
   
7. Support of high quality fundamental research proposals, chosen by peer review and funded on a responsive basis, encourages diversity through 'curiosity-driven' impulses. This diversity promotes flexibility in developing new technological capabilities at national and supra-national levels.
   
   
8. Mobility of researchers within Europe encourages successful inter- and multi-disciplinary collaborations, enhances training and facilitates the development of core expertise within the science. It helps bridge the frontiers of national practices and strengthens the cohesion of Europe. Programmes like Socrates and Training and Mobility Researchers could be enlarged and should be generously funded.
   
   
9. Public support of funding for collaborative research and technical development (R&TD) is vital for the stimulation of R&TD addressing societal needs. The chemical industry has initiated programmes for this specific purpose which have achieved success in stimulating collaborative R&TD projects. The European Commission must be encouraged to develop Europe's science base through promotion of cooperation between academia and industry, taking into account the needs of the chemical industry, and by strengthening the integration of European infrastructures in chemistry and related sciences.
   
   
10. We welcome the initiative of the Commission to enhance the public profile and focus of the Framework Programme by the creation of Task Forces addressing specific R&TD needs. The AllChemE partners expect to use such structures as a means for improving the contribution of academic and industrial R&TD to the achievements of targets of strategic societal importance.
    
    
11. The chemical industry regards the Framework Programmes of the EU as offering valuable support for its collaborative R&TD efforts. The industry works hard to make an effective contribution to the Fourth Framework Programme and wishes to play a full part in the formulation of the Fifth and subsequent Programmes.
    
    
12. National governments and the European Union have a role to play in the promotion of scientific education and in increasing public recognition of the positive role of chemistry in wealth creation and improving the quality of life. Such programmes might usefully be initiated in consultation with the partners of AllChemE, the joint platform of European chemical industry and academia.
    
    
13. Schools and school teachers, universities as teachers of teachers and adult teaching institutions all have a major contribution to make in improving society's knowledge of science and technology. This must be better recognised by national governments. Science teaching must be better funded and empowered through better training to deliver higher standards in our science education. Education must continue for our workforce throughout the working life. Education must be seen as a European matter - a fundamental basis for a modern society.