Dear Stakeholder & Friends of SusChem,
In 2024, the SusChem Board of Directors, the SusChem management team, and many helping minds finalized the new SusChem 2.0 strategy!
After contributing in the past few years to multiple initiatives, such as commenting on SSbD criteria, working on the Transition Pathway of the Chemical Segment and its competitiveness, and launching IAM-I, complementing our partners from EMIRI, EuMat, ManuFuture, and the Graphene Flagship, we decided that the future work of SusChem will center around innovation.
As described by President Mrs. von der Leyen in her outlines on Europe’s Choice, Research and Innovation need to be at the heart of our economy, or in the report of Mr. Draghi, which points out that one of the three major transformations in Europe will require the acceleration of innovation and the search for new growth engines! All these big overarching strategies and agendas, like Cefic’s 9 Innovation Action Plan derived from the Antwerp Declaration (Make the innovation framework smarter), will require a detailed executable plan for research organizations, where the roles and responsibilities of academia, SMEs, and large chemical industries are clearly described. With the unique setup of SusChem serving at the intersection between R&D policymakers, academia, RTOs, and industry in the chemical segment, SusChem will be:
- THE trusted partner for the European Commission as the representative of the collaborative Research, Development, and Innovation communities in the chemical sector.
- At the forefront of technical expertise regarding the strategic focus topics chosen by stakeholders and confirmed by the board, thus forming the basis for input to be given to the European Commission.
- Strategically forward-thinking in providing input to the European Commission for developing appropriate funding schemes and research and innovation policies to foster activities in the chemical sector, which is the source of 95% of industrial value chains.
- A place for stakeholders in R&D&I in the chemical sector to meet, exchange, and network.
- Inclusive of all players in the field, with a special focus on the National Technology Platforms.
- Set up with a lean structure, clear processes, and dedicated engagement for relevant research topics.
As proposed and approved at the SusChem Stakeholder meeting on November 7th, the next two research topics will focus on “circularity” as well as “digitalization” to be explored as a stand-alone activity or as a complement to an existing partnership! As SusChem is an ETP depending on voluntary contributions, we are looking for volunteers who have expertise in these segments to contribute details for the working groups and resulting strategic planning.
The Board Meeting on December 16th was my last one. At the end of the meeting, I stepped down as the elected Chairman of SusChem. It was an honor as well as a pleasure serving on such a distinguished board of honorable colleagues!
My best wishes for a successful implementation of the strategy, but first and foremost, a peaceful holiday season, an enjoyable time with your loved ones, and an energized start to 2025! The future is waiting to be created and shaped!
Sincerely yours,
Josef R. Wünsch