1、Growth and innovation in chemicalsA glass half empty or half full?2 Growth and innovation in chemicals:A glass half empty or half full?In short,innovation has always been closely linked to growth in the industry.But today,the need for innovation is greater than ever.Governments have set ambitious ta

2、rgets with ambitious timelines for moving toward sustainability,greenhouse gas(GHG)reduction and the circular economy.And the UNs Strategic Development Goals include a focus on areas such as climate change,clean water,green energy and responsible consumption.1 At the same time,the industrys customer

3、s need to meet their own sustainability goals and pursue growth in areas such as electric vehicles,batteries and 3D printing.Altogether,these trends will require a range of innovative chemical productscreating a tremendous growth opportunity for the chemical industry.The question is,will chemical co

4、mpanies be ready for that opportunity?To find out,Accenture researchers analyzed chemical companies investments across six key levers related to growth and innovation:patents,startups,corporate venturing,partnerships,mergers and acquisitions,and capital projects.The answer,it turns out,is essentiall

5、y“maybe.”For decades,chemical industry growth has outpaced GDP growth,and innovation has been an important driver of that growth.Innovation has brought materials with new performance properties,new applications and new solutions to the industrys customersand their customers customers.3 Growth and in

6、novation in chemicals:A glass half empty or half full?On the one hand,the industry has well-established innovation capabilities and is pursuing a range of innovations the glass is half full.It continues to provide a stream of products and solutions tailored to customers and end-consumers needs,such