M&A to increase in 2022
M&A activity in the chemicals sector has been declining since 2019, with a 29% decrease in deals value from the $333bn recorded in 2019 to the $236bn in 2021. The transaction size has also decreased sharply with less ‘mega-deals’ available. In 2019, 21% of recorded deals topped $10bn, compared with only 3% in 2021.
Climate for change
The latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report published in April 2022 focused on climate change mitigation. It emphasised that current global mitigation pledges are not enough to limit global warming to 1.5°C. In the last decade we have experienced the highest decadal increase in greenhouse gas emissions in human history.
Sustainable patenting
Innovators should consider whether trade secret protection is a more appropriate method for protecting their sustainable process technology compared with patents. Read the comment by Maeve O’Flynn, partner, London office of Finnegan Europe LLP.
High-performance fillers
High-performance fillers can change material properties, such as improving strength and stiffness, but also, for example, make packaging films easier to remove, increase the thermal conductivity of adhesives, regulate the temperature of acrylic glass sheets or store light in colours and release it again in the dark.
Decarbonising industry
There is a common misperception that the Foundation Industries, which produce metals, chemicals, cement, ceramics, paper and glass, have changed little since the Industrial Revolution. They are often thought to still be manufacturing commodity products using ‘old’ technology. The reality is that an ever-growing demand to produce more of these materials, at lower cost, has driven considerable innovation over recent decades.
Green paint guide
In an ever more competitive marketplace, makers of decorative paints often rely on unique selling points to make their products stand out. Some companies, however, may be misleading consumers with unsubstantiated green claims about their paints. A recent international analysis of websites conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that 40% of green claims made online could be misleading.
Impact of war on drug discovery
The events in Ukraine are devastating beyond what I can even start to comprehend or describe. My heart goes out to all those involved. What probably hasn’t been appreciated, however, is the impact this war will have on drug discovery.
Pigment markets
Warning or camouflage? Pigments can send signals, but also protect against sunlight or other dangers. The small, colour-giving particles are hardly soluble in water or other application media; pigments are mainly added to paints and coatings, plastics and construction materials. In contrast, dyes are used mainly to colour liquids.
Global life science R&D
As the global Covid-19 pandemic enters its third year, life science innovation is setting new records in the level of investment, activity and scientific progress, in addition to the number and range of new medicines reaching patients around the world. Beyond the ground-breaking contributions to Covid-19 in the form of vaccines and therapeutics, this sector has also succeeded in adapting and re-focusing to a remarkable extent, overcoming the many operational and organisational challenges.
The UK innovation landscape
Supplying a fast-growing global population with food, energy and clean water, making the best use of limited natural resources and protecting our climate are among the greatest challenges of our time. Innovations based on chemistry play a pivotal role in overcoming these and it’s certainly worth taking a deeper look.