Technological competitiveness in the chemical industry

This is to describe several issues of business environments surrounding the chemical industry and suggest ways to reinforce competitiveness for winning race in the industry, in particular, various approaches or uses of technologies in R&D, including actual experiences in novel process developments. Also explained are the necessity of responsible care activity to ensure environment, safety and health and its technology buildup which in turn leads to further reinforcement of competitiveness together with deepening of technology in specific discipline and fusion of technologies between different disciplines. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.