Employment and Careers for Chemical Scientists in Europe

Did you know that the vast majority of chemical scientists work in research and innovation, with some three million jobs in chemistry across Europe? This and many more interesting facts on the chemical science workforce can be found in the results of the recent EuChemS Employment Survey.

Employment conditions and career opportunities were the focus of the new Employment Survey for European Chemists (ESEC2). Conditions and opportunities for chemists are individually analysed for all countries where a statistically significant number of responses were received.

The results provide important clues for careers in these countries and in Europe as a whole. The importance of the various employer sectors varies significantly between European countries. A full chapter of the report is devoted to career planning of students and new graduates. The survey provides a wealth of details about the chemistry workforce in Europe and its development.

You can access the EuChemS report here.

Help shape the Future of European Industry

You can help the European Commission shape the industrial agenda of tomorrow at the Industry Day Conference that takes place on 28 February 2017. Some 400 participants, including key industrial players, global trend shapers and high-level policy makers, will inspire a full-day of debate on the future of European industry at the European Commission's Charlemagne Building in Brussels at the end of February.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, and Commissioners Elżbieta Bieńkowska (Internal Market, Industry, SMEs and Entrepreneurship) and Carlos Moedas (Research and Innovation) will all participate in the event.

Representatives of traditional and new, disruptive sectors will present their views on the future of their business. Entrepreneurs, innovators, start-ups and the tech community will share the stage with key EU political leaders.

There will also be speakers from the Committee of Regions, the European Investment Bank, the European Parliament, Business Europe, the European Roundtable of Industrialists and the European Trade Union Confederation.

You can find the draft programme for the event here.

Industry is changing

The nature of industry is changing, driven by rapid technological change. The evolution of industrial activity is characterised by digitalisation, clean and circular technologies, and a higher reliance on services. SusChem is actively engaged in shaping policy in all these industry-relevant areas – and others such as Key Enabling Technologies.

The Commission supports industry and makes a strong contribution to jobs and growth in Europe. Major policy initiatives for industrial competitiveness range from the Investment Plan and Horizon 2020 to the Single Market Strategy, from circular economy to Digitising European Industry. The Commission’s strategic approach to industrial competitiveness aims to empower businesses, citizens and entire regions to be fit for the future.

The European Industry Day event will take stock of existing actions and stimulate debate on a joint vision for the long-term future of European industry. Questions to debate include:

• What has been achieved by mainstreaming industrial competitiveness into EU policy?
• How will people find their place in the new industrial revolution?
• What is the role of regional ecosystems for industrial transformation?
• What are the key technologies for the future of industry?

The event will also aim to identify barriers preventing further progress towards  smart, clean and innovative industry that creates employment and high living standards for our citizens.

Registration for the event is via the event webpage. For more information contact the EU Industry Day team.

New Commission guide combines Strategic and Structural funding

The European Commission has issued a new guide on how European Funds for Strategic Investments (EFSI - a key element of the Juncker Investment Plan) and European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) can be combined at project and financial instrument level, for example as an investment platform, to support risky and innovation-driven European projects.

The 24-page guide entitled ‘European Structural and Investment Funds and European Fund for Strategic Investments complementarities – Ensuring coordination, synergies and complementarity’ will be of great interest to all SusChem stakeholders developing large scale investment projects under EFSI.

Through a number of illustrative examples, the Guide describes how combining funds is possible for projects supported either under the EFSI 'Infrastructure and Innovation Window' or under the 'SME Window'. In addition an in-depth example of a 'layered fund' is provided in one of the annexes of the guide combining ESIF and EFSI in the case of investment platforms.

In the next few years, EFSI and ESI Funds will be able to finance significant levels of investment in Member States and their regions. They are both set to play an essential role in the delivery of European policy objectives. While rationale, design, legislative framework and timeframe for implementation are different, there is considerable scope for ensuring coordination, synergies and complementarity for additional investments. This guide provides an overview of these possibilities so that stakeholders are well informed.

The funds
The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) was established by the European Commission in partnership with the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund (EIB and EIF – the 'EIB Group') to mobilise at least EUR 315 billion of additional finance for investment in higher-risk projects over three years.

Member States are also now starting the implementation of multiannual programmes co-financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for the 2014- 2020 programming period. In total, more than EUR 450 billion will be invested in Europe through ESIF in this period.

SusChem SIRA published: 2015 Stakeholder event registration opens soon

Today (16 March) the European Technology Platform (ETP) for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) has published its Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) and confirmed the dates for the next SusChem Stakeholder event as 8 and 9 June 2015. The new SIRA sets out SusChem’s research and innovation priorities for the short and medium term and the next steps and implementation for this ambitious agenda will be a major theme of the stakeholder event in June.

The SIRA document highlights the role the chemical industry in boosting innovation in Europe and the potential for sustainable chemistry technologies to tackle societal challenges, as outlined in the European Commission’s Research Framework programme Horizon 2020.

The document introduces major changes from the past SusChem Strategic Research Agendas (SRA) by addressing new topics such as ICT and Manufacturing, the value chain impact, mobility and health. It also outlines the crucial links between SusChem's priorities and the Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) that Europe has been pushing forward.

Sustainable chemical value
Some 20% of the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the European Union (EU) is due to the direct and indirect contributions of the chemical industry to EU Gross Value Added (GVA). The industry works along nearly all value chains and across industrial sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals and crop protection to the automotive sector, defence, construction, textiles and consumer goods.

The European chemical industry plays a pivotal role in supporting Europe 2020: the EU’s growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy. The SIRA explains the strategy and role of SusChem in this context. It highlights a portfolio of sustainable chemistry research and innovation actions that the platform believes can make a significant contribution to improving competitiveness and sustainability in the EU, address societal challenges and contribute to achieving jobs and inclusive growth.

“Everything we do should be focused on ultimately improving societal conditions, in particular, with respect to sustainability – working for ‘People, Planet and Profit’”, says Dr Klaus Sommer, Chairman of the SusChem board. “Our work will be fully justified if we can simultaneously create jobs, improve the environment and generate greater economic success and wellbeing.”

“In this spirit, the new SIRA is a great opportunity for SusChem and sustainable chemistry research and innovation across Europe,” continues Dr Sommer. “The SIRA will add value to the societal, scientific and industrial debate and help us to focus on the real challenges we face.”

Societal challenges
The SIRA is organised around five of the seven key societal challenges described in Horizon 2020 and highlights a portfolio of potential sustainable chemistry solutions. Each challenge is covered in a dedicated SIRA chapter:

• Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials 
• Food security, sustainable agriculture and the bioeconomy
• Secure, clean and efficient energy
• Health, demographic change and wellbeing
• Smart, green and integrated transport

Two further SIRA chapters cover Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Horizontal Issues. A SusChem press release on the SIRA launch can be accessed here giving more details on the document.

Stakeholder event 2015
Next steps and the implementation of the SIRA will be discussed at the SusChem Stakeholder event to be held in Brussels on 8 and 9 June 2015. The title of the event will be ‘Propelling Sustainable Chemistry to Exciting New Frontiers: Implementing the Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda’.

Registration for the 2015 Stakeholder event is scheduled to open on 24 March. Mark the dates in your agenda now!

The SIRA is the result of widespread consultation and input from SusChem's stakeholder community - not least discussions at SusChem's 10-year Stakeholder event in June 2014. SusChem now looks forward to working with its partners to implement these ideas over the next few years.

The SIRA has already been presented to European Commission officials and will form part of the input to future calls under Horizon 2020. You can download the full SIRA document here.

For more information on SusChem activities, the new SusChem SIRA and opportunities at the SusChem event contact Jacques Komornicki, SusChem Coordinator at Cefic.

ECRN SME Workshop

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are of central importance to the European economy. They play a key role as providers of employment opportunities and serve an important function for the well-being and economies of local and regional communities. Moreover, they are often at the core of value networks and the creation of added value.

In this context European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN) is organising a workshop: ‘Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises – The Engine of the European Industry’ on 24 February from 14:00 to 17:00 at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

At the ECRN the workshop, the focus will focus on the important role of SMEs not only in the chemical industry but as an integral part of the overall European economic fabric. The event will bring together policy makers and practitioners to discuss how local authorities can design more efficient strategies to encourage the development of innovative SMEs. In particular, the workshop will provide substantive examples of how SMEs can be supported at the regional level and focus on the success factors and potentially transferable elements of such strategies or initiatives.

Cristina Gonzalez of SusChem Spain and Feique will be presenting at the workshop on behalf of SusChem. She will talk about “Chemical SMEs, making it happening” covering examples of innovative SMEs in Spain and how SusChem can help small enterprises to move forward, for example, by giving them support to get involved with European projects through information sessions, networking, etc.

Other presentations will include the ‘Key role of regional authorities in supporting SMEs’ from Thomas Wobben, Director of Horizontal Networks and Studies, Committee of the Regions and the ‘Importance of SME policy at all levels – European, national, regional’ by Joanna Drake, Director of Entrepreneurship and SMEs at the European Commission’s DG Growth.

Examples of good practise will be drawn from the regions of Bavaria, Wallonia, Flanders and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Further information
ECRN is committed to enhancing cooperation and exchange of experiences across regions and wants to draw attention to what can be achieved by leveraging regional competences and bringing concrete examples and experiences into European policy discussions.

You can view the event programme here and an ECRN background briefing on SMEs here. For more information and to register for the workshop contact the ECRN Secretariat by 20 February.

Want to work for SusChem?

Are you interested in sustainable chemistry, research and innovation, and want to hone your communication skills in the capital of Europe? SusChem is looking for an intern based within the Research and Innovation team at Cefic (the European Chemical Industry Council) in Brussels. Don’t delay – apply today!

We are looking for highly motivated individuals with excellent spoken and written English to manage or help with various projects relating to resource and energy efficiency, water, raw materials, biotechnology, smart cities, innovation for growth and sustainable chemistry.

The work will be varied and could include EU project communication, publishing (via the web, print and social media), research and analysis including copywriting; drafting and publishing documents or blog posts, coordinating online-based communications projects, and events communication support. We might even let you write articles for SusChem News!

The successful applicant will work with colleagues in the Research and Innovation team and report to the R&I Communication Manager.

Your profile
Applicants should have excellent spoken and written English, be able to synthesize and translate complex issues into clear and concise messages and be very well-organised, able to exercise initiative and organize work under strict deadlines with the ability to set priorities, strong analytical skills an asset.

We are looking for strong interpersonal skills, a self-starter with a flexible approach, ready to adjust priorities and be available when needed to tackle urgent requests. You should also be highly computer literate; familiar with MS Office and social media. An operational knowledge of web content management systems and related Internet tools, and/or elements of design, video editing tools and basic knowledge of publishing software(s) are all also assets we can use. And, of course, you should be strongly motivated with a high amount of individual initiative and enjoy working in a multicultural team.

Interested?
Please send your application (a short motivation letter plus your curriculum vitae of no more than two pages) to Esther Agyeman-Budu, Communication Manager, Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, B-1160 Brussels with cc to Gert Roelandt, Human Resources Manager.

For more details of the role visit the Cefic website.

The communications department in Cefic has a rolling programme of internships for communications students reaching the end of their studies and young communications graduates. Cefic, the forum and voice of the chemical industry in Europe, is the largest European trade group in Brussels and offers valuable and rewarding work experience in a welcoming, stimulating multicultural team.

EU Chemistry Employment Survey

Update February 2014. The deadline for input for the EU Employment Survey has been extended to 28 February. To access the questionnaire (now available only in English) click here.

For more details on the the survey see below.

In which European country do chemists and chemical engineers enjoy the highest salary? Where are the best prospects for employment? And which of the various chemical sub-disciplines offer the most jobs? Getting answers to these questions is the aim of the first European employment survey for chemists and chemical engineers. The deadline for contributing to the confidential survey is 31 December 2013.

The employment survey has been commissioned by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to provide details about the current employment situation for chemists and chemical engineers across Europe and to understand future needs for post-secondary education in Europe.

The survey is open to all chemists and chemical engineers in Europe and is supported by Cefic, EuCheMS, the European Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Network (EC2E2N). The project is being coordinated and managed by the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association (ECTNA). And all chemist and chemical engineers in Europe are encouraged to take part in the survey. Chemists who are members of national societies affiliated to EuCheMS should have already received notification of the survey.

However, chemists and engineers from industry are often under represented in national chemical societies so it is important that the survey is accessible to them as well.

24 languages
The questionnaire was available in 24 European languages and all responses are saved anonymously. A valid email address is requested at the start of survey, but this is just a check to prevent misuse. The email is only stored (independently from your responses to the survey) if you want to receive the results of the survey directly when they are published in 2014.

The survey has six general pages (on Personal data, Education, Employment, on Job Training and Salary) all of which provide fields for free-text responses.

You can find the survey at www.chemsurvey.eu. National coordinators for the survey have been nominated and if you have any questions about the survey they should be your first port of call. They can be contacted via the Survey site.

The original deadline for completing the survey was 31 December 2013.