January - 2012
Welcome to the New Year 2012 with fresh passion, commitment and lot of energy. Let us resolve in this New Year to change the world with progressive efforts and positive attitude. No doubt we are all proud to be Chemical Engineers as it provides enormous ways to use chemistry, technology and its applications to make them work for mankind for improving quality of life.
Chemical Engineers develop ways of using material and energy basically. Today, the field of chemical engineering has become unique and diverse covering areas from traditional heavy chemicals, petrochemicals to speciality chemicals and to bio-technology, nano-technology, etc. This profession is now multidirectional with newer chemical engineering departments as well as newer research institutions taking up this development to newer fields hitherto unknown.
M/s. Mc Kinsey has projected that the speciality chemical industries in India will grow at the rate of 15 to 17% driven by higher consumptions on account of steady growth in the end user industries. This has the potential to reach a value of $ 80 - 100 bn by 2020. The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (MOC&F) also indicates that the speciality chemical industry has the potential to grow from the current $ 20 bn to $100 bn in the next 10 years and there is a dire need to increase the industries R&D spend to at least 3 to 5% of the turn over with an imperative slogan “ Innovate or Perish ”. Distinctive technology, customer backed innovation, recognized product brand, etc. have been recognized as success factors and strategy would be critical driver of success in the future.
We – chemical engineers as part of the fascinating chemical engineering profession – are the vital part of this growth. We have a large pool of young and energetic professionals who can unite together and contribute innovatively to this growth. The recent success of CHEMCON 2011 at Bengaluru has proved that the theme of CHEMCON 2011 namely “Chemical Engineering in synergetic growth” emphasize the strong link between chemical engineering and other areas like biology, nano-science, fundamental materials, etc., as inspired by stalwarts like Prof CNR Rao, Dr RA Mashelkar, etc.,
This no doubt poses a set of new challenges as we recognize our social responsibility to achieve growth and quality of life in a healthy, safe, pollution free, green manner. Here is where the focus of the coming development will be aimed at. All chemical engineering processes and activities need to be evaluated of its environmental impact so that innovations towards inherently safer, inherently greener methods are developed. This will enable the society to recognize and support chemical industries having genuine responsible care.
From 1947 to till date, IIChE has come a long way with their more than 15,000 members. It provides not only a vision for continuous growth & development but also provides an essential platform for networking among students, researchers, industry professionals and Govt/regulators. The efforts done by all the members/past presidents in this regard are well appreciated and complimented.
Let us take this to the next level of development as a continual process and I wish to appeal to all chemical engineers to come forward to join us, develop and adopt new ideas, technologies as well as become more sensitive to our eco system and ultimately work to make it cleaner, greener and safer.
Let me express my sincere gratitude for electing me unanimously to contribute in this prestigious position. I also wish to assure my best efforts and wish to seek suggestions & ideas from each one of you. I count on you all to come together and contribute more and more towards our profession and take this prestigious organization to greater heights.
Once again I wish you all a very Happy, Safe & Prosperous 2012.
Warm regards,
P. Vijayaraghavan
President – IIChE
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