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Business Strategy Group

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Forewarned, Forearmed ...Insight

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Insight is an exciting new initiative led by the Business Strategy Group which aims to involve members throughout SCI in becoming better equipped to meet the challenges of uncertain futures. We want to develop visions of what may lie ahead in areas crucial to the success of all chemical-based industry sectors. More than this, we want to reduce uncertainty by sharing state-of-the-art knowledge and developing an understanding of key drivers shaping the future ... and what actions are necessary to prepare for it and influence it ... starting today.

The Insight process aims to engage SCI members at all stages. External expertise will be brought in when necessary to complement and inform that of the membership.

• Phase One will scope the broad topic area to review the current situation. What knowledge and needs do SCI members have? What are the questions that need asking?
• Phase Two will attempt to answer these by conducting a more focused analysis using appropriate foresighting techniques.
• Phase Three will bring together and communicate the results, eg as a paper, a conference, or online, giving first sight to members, and possibly setting the scene for further work.

Click here to read a briefing on the first Insight topic

Projects will be selected where we feel that SCI members’ wide range of interests, expertise and network connections mean that we can make a significant impact with a distinctive contribution.

There is no recipe for Insight activities, but there are good practices, plus a variety of tried and tested tools available. The UK ’s Office of Science and Technology has produced a guide to ‘Strategic Futures Planning’.

Foresight Programme
Phase One of Insight is now open for SCI members to get involved. A seminar, Growing Opportunities for Innovation in Platform Chemicals, was held exclusively for SCI members and invited experts at SCI’s International HQ in Belgrave Square, London on 20 March 2006. Speakers from leading organisations involved in bio-renewables discussed the current situation and prospects from various angles, including:

• Crop science and biotechnology
• Chemicals and processing
• The supporting infrastructure being developed in Europe

This was an invaluable opportunity for SCI members concerned with mid to longer term strategic issues in all aspects of supply and demand for chemical feedstocks, or with R&D interests in platform chemicals, to get up to speed in this emerging area. It also provided a chance to get involved with seeing and shaping an exciting future.