Chemistry research ‘is vital to UK’s economy’

The chemistry research sector is helping to support around a fifth of the UK's economic earning power, according to a new report.

An Oxford Economics study commissioned by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has shown that industries reliant on chemistry contributed 258 billion pounds to the UK economy in 2007.

This is equivalent to 21 per cent of the country's GDP, with sectors including healthcare, electronics, aerospace and textiles among those noted as being wholly or partly reliant on chemical science.

Dr Richard Pike, chief executive of the RSC, said this illustrates the need for investment in the skills pipeline for the science sector to be maintained.

He added: "This report demonstrates the extent to which developments that are led or underpinned by the chemical sciences contribute to the economic wellbeing of the UK."

This comes after the EPSRC stated last month that "shaping research capability" should be considered a key priority ahead of the forthcoming government spending review.