Reshaping the chemical industry via artificial intelligence and blockchain

Safe operations, autonomous plants, 24×7 customer support, transparency over use of chemicals in the downstream value chain, assured provenance, focus on innovative and value-add tasks — artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain can enable this, even today. The value potential is real.

Accenture research shows a redefinition of cost and profit structures with a double-digit EBITDA improvement if AI and blockchain are deployed. Accenture research also shows:
• AI makes up to 45% of today’s tasks obsolete.
• Blockchain builds on strong network effects … but being left out of the network implies massive disadvantages.
• Both technologies can generate significant growth via innovation, new offerings and new business models.
• Both technologies require skills which are already in very short supply.

To capture the value potential, more than just a technical deployment is required, as AI and blockchain can lead to a full-fledged transformation. Join Accenture’s Bernd Elser in what will be a lively discussion about how the European chemical industry can harness AI and Blockchain to generate growth and navigate the  challenges along the way.

Building a talent strategy for unpredictable future

In collaboration with CEFIC, Korn Ferry has been investigating how the chemical industry can remain among the world’s most productive industries.
The market is facing a slew of disruptive forces: Industry 4.0, heightened volatility, dwindling resources, changing demographics, and new entrants from emerging markets.

Against this backdrop, Korn Ferry asked directors, HR professionals and line managers about the future.

They combined the findings with their analysis of the Future of Work in the manufacturing environment, to answer these questions:
• What opportunities and threats do Industry 4.0 present?
• What will work look like in 2050–and how will this influence the shape of the workforce?
• How do you develop a talent strategy for the digital era?
• How can you win the coming war for talent?

Find out how the chemical industry can thrive in an uncertain future – come along to Korn Ferry’s talent strategy presentation and discover their “The Talent Strategy to Support a Thriving Chemical Industry Towards 2050” report.

IPCC Special Report Global Warming of 1.5ºC

Linda Steg, one of the researchers and authors of the 1.5degree  IPCC report that was recently launched, will join us for an explanation of the report and a discussion on how to keep the temperature level below 1.5degree.

IEA vision of Petrochemicals in today’s and future global energy world

Petrochemicals have created a wide range of modern products which have made themselves indispensable to society. The International Energy Agency aims to shed light in this important energy demand area with the upcoming report called “The Future of Petrochemicals”that will be launched on the 28th of September.

The new IEA study explores the role of the sector in today’s global energy system and how its significance for global energy security and the environment is set to increase on the basis of established trends. The report also draws a path to an alternative scenario, which is consistent with different UN sustainable development goals, and assesses the resulting upstream impacts on oil and natural gas demand as well as supportive cost-optimal strategies to achieve such objectives. The study discusses how petrochemicals derived products are engrained in today’s society, and what role they could play in the sustainable transformation of the energy system.

Join the International Energy Agency’s session and discover “The Future of Petrochemicals” report, providing a global coverage and informed with key specific analysis.

How plastics recycling will be redefining chemical value chains

The issue of plastic waste has become unavoidable for the chemical industry, as the perception of plastics has turned very negative in the public eye, despite their widespread application, versatility and often beneficial ecological profile.

McKinsey developed a comprehensive perspective on global waste streams and relevant recovery technologies, which will be part of the solution and have the potential to increase the plastics recovery rate to 50% by 2030. While plastics recycling is today perceived as a costly business, McKinsey anticipate a significant value pool until 2030, which will also impact the current value chains and offer possibilities for new players in both the recycling business.

Join McKinsey’s session which will shed light on various aspects on the profound impact of plastics recycling on the landscape of the chemicals industry.

Collaborative Innovation

Innovation is important for growth and differentiation. Breakthrough solutions require collaboration across the value chain and explore the art of the possible.

“How can chemical organizations keep developing their business model while simultaneously finding new, and external business models to secure the future?”

To answer these innovation challenges, many of the KPMG clients launch “open innovation challenges” to help solve real business challenges as well as uncovering sustainable business opportunities. In the Friday Session they will share with you how organizations use innovation platforms and labs. Some of the best practices they will share are on the following areas:
• What is innovation achieved through collaboration;
• Why it gives a competitive advantage through online and offline platforms, and;
• How to develop capabilities for innovation initiatives, results and reaching across organizational silos and value chains in order to bring the best ideas in.

The ISC3 – a partner to transform chemistry

The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC₃) was established in 2017 as an independent global institution to support the transformation of chemistry towards new sustainable business models.

The ISC₃ runs

• A global Start-Up service for the most innovative and transformative solutions;
• An International School for Sustainable Chemistry;
• A Scenario process that looks into the future of the chemical sector until 2050;
• Partnerships with the UN Organisations and SAICM to shape the international policy agenda;
• A Workstream with a sectorial focus on the use of plastics in the building industry.

Join  ISC₃  session for an overview of the Centre’s activities and explore opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.