“Contribution of Italian Chemical Society to
the technology transfer processes to develop
“ research, economy and market”
Workshop on: “ How the Technology Transfer can be fostered by the
Scientific, Technical and Industrial Chemical Institutions“
FEDERCHIMICA - Milano July 16th 2008
Speaker: Prof. E. Santacesaria
Full Professor of Industrial Chemistry at the University of Naples
President of the Industrial Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society
Objectives of SCI-Italian Chemical Society
Art. 2 of the Statute
1) The Italian Chemical Society has the scope to promote the Study and the Progress
of Chemistry and related Applications in particular:
• To promote and improve the Scientific Research in all the fields of Chemistry
• To diffuse the knowledge of Chemistry and the importance of the related
applications for improving the wellness and the progress of the nation.
• To activate and mantain relations with Associations and Organizations both
national and of other countries having similar objectives. To promote in any field the
development of the Science.
• To promote and favour the study of Chemistry in the University and in any other
school of lower level.
2) In order to achieve the mentioned scopes, SCI, as no-profit association, promotes
publications, studies, investigations, meetings etc. using all the possible means
rendered available by the Organs of the Association.
Società Chimica Italiana
REGULATION
1) ACTIVITY OF THE SOCIETY
In agreement with the Statute the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) promotes the
diffusion of the culture of Chemistry and defends the dignity of both the Chemistry
in the different socio-economic sectors of the nation and the chemical profession.
At this purpose SCI:
(a) Promotes, collects and discusses the scientific and didactic activities developed
by italian and foreign scientists, by editing directly or through opportune
agreement with editors of Journals, Books and Handbooks.
(b) Organizes Congresses, Meetings, Schools and Seminars useful to diffuse the
chemical culture and to improve the chemistry science reputation in the public
opinion.
(c) Distributes Awards and Medals to Scientists to recognize their merits in the
developments of Chemistry Science.
Società Chimica Italiana
ORGANISATION OF S.C.I. - ITALIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Members Assembly
PRESIDENT
Vice- President 1
Vice- President 2
Central Council
Divisions
Sections
Interdivisional
Groups
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Special Thematic
Commissions
SECTIONS – REGIONAL ORGANISATION
ABRUZZO
DIVISIONS-DISCIPLINARY ORGANISATION
104
BASILICATA
40
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
438
CALABRIA
117
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
122
CAMPANIA
213
DIDACTICS OF CHEMISTRY
368
EMILIA
577
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
139
FRIULI-VENEZIA
GIULIA
110
PHARMACEUTICAL DIV.
602
INORGANIC DIV.
406
LAZIO
391
LIGURIA
182
MASS SPECTROMETRY
250
LOMBARDIA
712
ORGANIC DIVISION
951
MARCHE
133
305
PIEMONTE
281
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEM
AND DEFENSE OF CULTURAL
GOODS
PUGLIA
224
INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY
321
SARDEGNA
105
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
336
SICILIA
337
TOSCANA
425
UMBRIA
113
VENETO
282
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SCI ACTIVITIES OF POTENTIAL INTEREST FOR THE INDUSTRIES
ORGANIC DIVISION
INORGANIC DIVISION
Products innovation
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
PHARMACEUTICAL DIVISION
INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY DIVISION
Products and processes innovation
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
MASS SPECTROMETRY
Products characterisation
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND
DEFENSE OF CULTURAL GOODS
Safety and public service
DIDACTICS OF CHEMISTRY
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INTERDIVISIONAL GROUPS
Colloids and Interfaces
59
Carbohydrates
73
Photochemistry
48
Magnetic Resonance
72
Structural Chemistry
42
Catalysis
180
Organometallics
165
Food Chemistry
129
Radiochemistry
25
Safety in chemical
environment
90
Calorimetry and thermal
analysis
42
Biomaterials
28
Computational Chemistry
112
Separations Science
67
Proteomic chemistry
64
Green Chemistry
78
Aerosol Science and Tech.
13
SPECIAL COMMISSIONS OR WORKING GROUPS (EXAMPLES)
1) Ethics and Philosophy of Chemistry
2) Chemistry Reputation
3) Commission for Regulations
4) Commission for the International Affairs
Special Actions
1) Organisation of Chemistry Games
(selection of the best students for the
Chemistry Olympiad)
2) EUCHEM
3) ECTNA
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“DRIVING FORCES” FOR THE INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
Customers attendance
Profit
Solutions
Technological
Research
Company
Products
Processes
Market
Problems
Investments
New input arising from the market
Actions strongly conditioned by the profit and market
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“DRIVING FORCES” FOR THE ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Information from scientific literature
Professor
Didactics
Tesi di laurea
Dottorato
Publications
Scientific
Problems
Scientific
Research
Improvment of
the knowledge
Technological
Problems
Applied
Research
Informazioni da letteratura brevettuale
None external bond – Freedom of choice
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Patents
Customers attendance
Points of contact
1)
2)
Profit
Chemistry culture (formation)
Money for research
Solutions
Technological
Research
Company
Products
Processes
Market
Problems
Investments
Graduated personnel
New input arising from the market
Actions strongly conditioned by the profit and market
Information from scientific literature
Professor
Didactics
PhD and
Master Thesis
Publications
Scientific
Problems
Scientific
Research
Improvment of
the knowledge
Technological
Problems
Applied
Research
Scientific and
Technological
Information
Patents
Information from Patent Literature
None external bond – Freedom of choice
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Elements of divergency
Customers attendance
Profit
1)
2)
1)
4)
Different objectives
Different approaches to the
problems
One way information flow
Different cultural environment
Solutions
Technological
Research
Company
Products
Processes
Market
Problems
Investments
New input arising from the market
Actions strongly conditioned by the profit and market
Information from scientific literature
Professor
Didactics
PhD and
Master Thesis
Publications
Scientific
Problems
Scientific
Research
Improvment of
the knowledge
Technological
Problems
Applied
Research
There is the need for a better
collaboration
Patents
Information from Patent Literature
None external bond – Freedom of choice
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A brief analysis of the situation concerning research and formation in Italy
1. The chemical industrial research in Italy is nowaday strongly reduced with respect to the past due
to the disappearing of the big companies like Montedison, SIR, ANIC, etc and the disappearing of
big industrial research centers.
2. The small-medium industries have not personnel and funds enough to perform research of high
level. The companies prefer to buy know-how.
3. The italian industries have few contracts with Universities and scarcely use use cheap instruments,
largely employed in other countries, to do resarches like the PhD thesis and Post-doc fellowships.
4.
Some competencies are estinguishing, because are poorly used (Process development Industrial
Chemistry, Plants development and management etc.).
5.
University has developed, in some cases, opinions that are against the interaction with industries,
probably with the aim to defend the freedom in the research. This has also consequences in the
didactics where some key topics, crucial for the industry are poorly treated or neglected
(Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Science, Colloid and Interface Science, Safety in
Chemical Industry, Formulations, etc.).
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Suggestions for involving Italian Universities in Researches of Industrial interest.
1) Accurate selection of the professors with which to cooperate
Selection must be made on the basis of both the scientific value and the vocation to do
Applied research.
2) Respect the sentiment of freedom of the professors
Avoid to impose too bonds to the development of the commissioned research.
3) Improve the methods of reciprocal communication.
This a key point considering the problems of secrecy of the industrial activities and
the Interest of professors to publish their results.
Another aspect is for the small-medium companies to know the most suitable persons
for solving a their problem and for some professors to individuatethe problems of
interest for a definite industry. The creation of Agencies for the Research that put
together problems and competencies to solve them could be a solution.
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4) Take always into account the difference in the objectives that industries and
universities has and also the different ways and time in working.
5) The problem to be submitted to the University must have a scientific valence.
Avoid trivial problems.
Some problems appearing trivial could have relevant scientific value. Learn to
individuate the scientific aspect of aproblem
6) Leave time enough for the scientific approach to a problem.
In many cases the scientific approach is the most fast way to solve really a problem,
even if often the empyrical approach seems more reliable.
7) Promote the activity of the best researchers giving them funds and personnel.
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CONCLUSIONS
™ The actual structure of the italian chemical industry, characterised by small-medium
companies needs help for performing research.
™ The Universities can be usefully involved in researches of interest for the industry.
™ The Italian Chemical Society (SCI) which members come mainly from the
Academic world, could favour the intensification of the interactions and
collaborations with industries through the Divisions and Interdivisional Groups
that are more oriented to achieve innovation on new reactions, new products and
processes (i.e. Industrial Chemistry, Organic, Inorganic, Pharmaceutical, Catalysis,
Colloid and Interphases etc.).
™ As the members of SCI are mainly individual a greater number of members coming
from the industry could strongly favour the intensification of the interactions and
collaborations between academia and industry.
™ More investments of the industries in research and formation could be advantageous
for both university and industry.
Società Chimica Italiana