The ScotCHEM research pooling initiative brings together seven universities, industry body Chemical Sciences Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council, to enhance Scotland’s capacity to deliver innovative and influential chemistry research and to enable joint access to facilities.

An independent review of activity by BiGGAR Economics for the Funding Council finds the quality of chemistry research in Scotland now significantly higher than previously, and chemistry departments involved are more attractive to internationally leading researchers.

The report estimated that the chemistry research pooling exercise enabled participating institutions to secure £42m  additional competitive research funding between 2005/06 and 2009/10.

ScotCHEM plans to build on its success with formation of an International Graduate School that will combine world-leading research training with industry and international experience.

The objective is to increase the number of chemistry postgraduate researchers able to contribute as leaders of tomorrow in areas central to economic growth, including manufacturing, health and life sciences, energy and food and drink.

The director of the new Scotland-wide International Graduate School revealed at a ScotCHEM-Industry studentship conference is chair of synthetic chemistry Professor Derek Woollins, ScotChem board member and Head of the School of Chemistry at St Andrews.

Professor David Gani, executive chairman of ScotCHEM and deputy principal at the University of Strathclyde, says: “Chemical sciences underpin a multi-billion pound industry that consistently performs as a top exporter for Scotland and an education sector which already punches well above its weight.

“The outstanding success of ScotCHEM underlines Scotland’s ability to seize opportunities and deliver tangible benefits by bringing together the vast array of knowledge and ability in our universities and wider industry.

“ We look forward to chemical sciences research going from strength to strength and hope that our national economic growth strategies can take full advantage of the opportunities. Core to this will be growing Scotland’s skills base by increasing numbers of highly skilled postgrads needed both in academic research and industry.”

Among the report’s findings:

• Strong support for rationale behind research pooling among research active staff in institutions concerned, in particular the importance of creating ‘critical mass’
• Research pooling creates a “self-reinforcing virtuous circle” of research quality improvement
• As the quality of research improves, international reputation of the institutions involved has also grown
• There is evidence to suggest research pooling results in less competition between the partner universities for funding making it easier for industry to engage with academia, particularly for multi-disciplinary research across two or more university departments.

Mark Batho, SFC  CEO says: “Research pooling has been a bold step for Scottish universities which has ensured they maintain their competitive edge, both internationally and within the UK.  SFC has invested over £150m in pooling and we are now seeing evidence of benefits this collaborative approach brings."

Caroline Strain, chemical sciences head at Scottish Enterprise says: “Chemical sciences sector is Scotland’s second largest export market and crucial to the economy, generating £2.7bn exports every year, supporting 14,000 direct jobs and thousands more in the supply chain. It has a significant role to play driving the country out of recession.”

Dr Sandy Dobbie, chairman of Chemical Sciences Scotland, added: “Our world class academic research can dovetail with industry. Our chemistry departments are now more attractive than ever to leading international researchers.

“They are leading the world in collaborative research in Chemistry and our chemical industry is now part of that collaborative effort too.

"We already have over 40 PhD students in Scottish universities working on projects specifically for Scottish chemical sciences companies in addition to all the “normal” PhD projects in the chemical sciences that the universities are undertaking.

“The International Graduate School in Chemistry is another major leap forward for the chemical sciences in Scotland and we hope it will lead to even more students working in collaboration with industry.”