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Autumn 2007 Simulating chemical processes The magic of helical nanotubes Hydrogen bonds and catalysts Innovation – the lifeblood of science As I see it... emerging technologies and how we can exploit The main aim of the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge them for the benefit of society as a whole, while Transfer Network is to improve innovation performance in also making money for UK plc. Industry needs to be clear about what sustainability in the UK the chemistry-using industries. Sarah Houlton spoke to its actually means – fortress UK doesn’t exist, and chief executive, Carol Boyer-Spooner, about its role we have to look beyond the boundaries of the UK, and exploit best practice, wherever it is. So what’s next for CIKTN? What is the Chemistry Innovation KTN? Another important role is securing funding When it comes to our three-year review in Back in 2002, the DTI put together the to carry out innovation projects – and making about a year’s time, we want to be able to Chemistry Innovation Growth Team, which sure the sector gets its fair share of government demonstrate five or six big things that are going identified a number of areas where action was support! As well as the core funding – formerly to make a difference. I think these will include required to improve performance across the UK from DTI and now under the auspices of the areas like biorefineries, materials chemistry and chemistry-using industries. This led to the for - Technology Strategy Board – there is additional probably something in the area of formulation. mation of a chemistry innovation centre, funding from the EU, research councils and the Rather than tinkering at the fringes with small pulling together people from academia and regional development agencies. For example, projects that individual companies are best industry. In 2005, the government brought in we’re currently putting together a materials doing themselves, our role is to promote big the Knowledge Transfer Network concept, and chemistry project in the north-west that will investments, such as the materials chemistry we adjusted our business plan to fit into this bring together the four big institutions for project, that can really make a difference. new model. The CIKTN was launched in materials in the region. There will be £7 million February 2006, backed by £4.6 million in of RDA funding, and we also hope to draw funding over three years from DTI, and we money in from EPSRC and the government, r e started the journey of rolling together the three adding up to a total project of about £30m over n former Faraday Partnerships – Crystal, Impact five years. o o and Insight – into Chemistry Innovation. p We began to transform what was, essentially, What have you achieved already? S - a technology push activity into a connector I think developing a coherent strategy for the r activity, and set up three stakeholder forums to sector is a significant achievement in its own e y get input from chemistry users. The Innovation right, as we’ve been able to provide clarity to o B Strategy Board (ISB) includes more than 20 government about what is important for this l leading industrialists, and their task is to pro - industry. I also think we’ve done well to get the o vide strategic direction and advice on the inno - subsectors of the chemistry-using industries to r a vation priorities for the chemistry-using sector. speak with one voice. That might not sound like C The Academic Stakeholder Forum (ASF) looks much, but to get so many diverse sectors saying at the strategic issues involved in how academ - the same thing was a challenge! When mem - ics engage with industry, how barriers between bers of the ISB listed their priorities, it was V C them can be removed, and whether the skill sets noticeable that there were a number of issues needed by industry to deliver their priorities that they all felt were important, whether they are available. And the aim of the Regional were from big or small companies, working in Stakeholder Forum (RSF) is to align strategies drug discovery or paint manufacture. Some had and promote partnership so that the funds gov - a different emphasis to others, of course, but we Born: Kyneton, near Melbourne in Australia ernment puts into the regions are effectively still ended up with seven priorities that every - Status: Married with three stepchildren linked with central government funding, which one bought into. Education: Graduate from the University of primarily comes from the new Technology We also now have a chemical industry repre - Melbourne as a bachelor of business Strategy Board. sentative on the Technology Strategy Board, Career: She began her career in the which should make a difference. We’ve also commercial side of ICI Australia, and stayed So what are your aims? changed the structure of how things operate – with the company for 23 years, heading to There are several! To deliver improved industrial by asking industry what the barriers to innova - Singapore as chief operating officer of the performance; drive knowledge transfer right tion are, and then helping them to connect with decorative business, before moving to the along the supply chain and provide unique people who can remove them. From the inno - UK to do a similar role in Europe in 1999. In ‘independent’ networking opportunities to vation strategy board’s point of view, innova - 2004, Carol moved to Chemicals North connect stakeholders. But the overriding aim is tion leadership is a key topic that needs address - West as chief executive, and went on to to provide a coherent voice for the chemistry- ing – how we get organisations to change their become chief executive of the Chemistry using industries to government. The sector is cultures to encourage innovation, rather than Innovation KTN when it was formed in 2006. very fragmented, with 23 separate trade associ - just r&d is a key focus for us. ations. We are therefore trying to corral the Interests: Carol loves sport, including skiing troops so that government is more likely to sup - What importance does all this have for and Aussie rules football – though as it’s port chemistry! people studying chemistry? something of a challenge getting to watch We do this primarily by connecting people. Firstly, we hope it will turn a career in chem - it live over here she’s adapted to watching One of the most important things when we istry back into something that they are likely to football, and is now a Bolton Wanderers started out was to set out a clear strategy outlin - consider! I hope it will be more obvious that fan. She also played basketball for Victoria ing the drivers for industry, and we have iden - the sector does ‘good’ things and is a real career back in Australia. Other loves include food, tified seven priorities for the chemistry-using choice. We’re slowly and surely getting there – wine and connecting with friends. industries. Some are technology-focused, and the government is now starting to talk about Did you know? She used to be a others are ‘softer’ things – which this industry modern manufacturing rather than the demise passionate republican but completely is not so good at doing – such as creating a cul - of the sector. The traditional image of the chem - changed her mind after meeting the ture of innovation, and ensuring the necessary ical industry is large factories making bulk Queen! Her family are shocked at her skills are available to take an idea and transform products like chlorine and polypropylene, but new royalist sentiments… it into a profitable business. the future will not be like this – it’s about 2 Chem@Cam Autumn 2007 Reluctant reactions Letters More poetic licence worked behind stage at Arts Theatre shows. His Times obituary has a trio of eminent Regards to the Chem Lab signatories, Ewart Jones, J.H. Melanby Dear Editor Andrew Holmes-Siedle and J.A.N. Railton, and I quote part of This is a further contribution to your Eynsham, Oxfordshire their warm and eloquent tribute: ‘And theme of verse composed around Sir all this was present in a man whose ori - Alexander Todd ( Chem@Cam, Summer A brilliant man gins would please the college selectors 2007). I wrote down the bit I can of today, seeking as they do for the bril - remember of a cabaret songs I com - Dear Editor liant young men and women whose posed for the Chem Lab Christmas party I am writing in response to your backgrounds have not given them the between 1954 and 1960. The ‘knight’ request for information concerning B.R. easy opportunities of the middle classes in the song was, of course, Professor Brown, the chemist in the ‘marvellously in the competition for university places.’ Todd, who had been awarded a knight - filty labcoat’. Incidentally, in earlier edi - Ben’s path through education 50 or so hood that year. tions of Chem@Cam he is in a photo - years ago was a familiar one. Since those graph of cricketers taking part in a days, the thriving mining communities Why can’t we knights wear armour every day ? game between the Oxford and in South Yorkshire – Wath-on-Dearne, I’m a charmer in my armour Cambridge laboratories. I think, how - Swinton, Mexborough, Grimethorpe (So the boilermakers say) ever, he was then back at Oxford. and others – have been devastated both So I would LOVE to wear it I was very fortunate that, over the years, socially and economically. It is a similar It would make me feel tres gai I came to know Ben well.

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