Needed: European policy framework to overcome upskilling, data sharing, and collaboration hurdles in the digital transition
Digital technologies will revolutionise the European chemical industry, making processes and products more sustainable and efficient. As a key provider to many other industries, the chemical industry has a key role to play in helping other industries to transform and meet Europe’s 2050 goals. Yet many hurdles remain: data sharing, skills, and effective collaboration. Cefic’s latest Digital Dialogue called for a European policy framework that addresses these hurdles and facilitates the deployment of digital technologies that contribute to sustainable development.
During the digital event, industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers tackled the question ‘How to Turbocharge Europe’s the Transition to 2050 with Digital Technologies?’ and the outcomes of a recent ground-breaking study from Cefic and Arthur D. Little, ‘Digital Technologies for Sustainability in the European Chemical Industry’ was presented.
Emphasising the vital role of the chemicals industry, Dr. Ilias Iakovidis, Adviser of the Green Digital Transition from DG CONNECT at the European Commission underlined:
The industry’s “extra responsibility as a sector to help others to green” given the industry is “providing materials based on which the sustainability of the other sectors depends.”
Dr. Marina Samoylova, Innovation Manager at Cefic, presented the study and urged for an innovation-friendly environment: “
Our ask to the European institutions would be to ensure an innovation friendly environment because this is important for the success of digital solutions. There is a need for such a policy and regulatory framework that facilitates the potential of technology to transform the industry.”
Dr. Sarah T. Eckersley, Vice President R&D, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure at Dow, spoke of the “tremendous opportunity to use artificial intelligence (AI) to really accelerate the adoption of sustainable solutions.” She underlined that:
“Data is incredibly valuable because at the end of the day, it allows us to make the right decisions to bring safe and effective products to market.”
Dr. Nicole Graf, Global Lead “Digital x Circular Economy” Innovation at BASF, discussed the industry’s active work on digital solutions for circularity. She emphasised the industry’s central role, stating:
“Chemical industry needs to be very, very motivated because actually in, in the end, we are sitting like the spider in the web in the middle between all industries because we deliver products into nearly all industries.”
Underscoring the importance of training the next generation of leaders who can master these new technologies and foster innovation, Dr. Federico Menna, CEO of EIT Digital declared that there is
“No innovation without education.”
The European chemical industry is already making considerable efforts, and digital technologies for sustainability are being used throughout the entire value chain.
Dr. Daniel Witthaut, Executive Director Innovation at Cefic, underlined:
“Digital technologies will boost, accelerate achieving our sustainability goals.”
However, to accelerate the transition, these technologies need to be scaled up and their use needs to be expanded. The industry and EU institutions must work together to address technological challenges like data availability, interoperability, and standardisation. This collaborative effort will ensure that digital technologies are used effectively and responsibly to drive sustainability and efficiency in the chemical industry.
Digital Technologies for Sustainability in the European Chemical Industry
The study ‘Digital Technologies for Sustainability in the European Chemical Industry’ provides a roadmap for this journey, offering a blueprint for the industry’s digital future and can be consulted here.