business foresight and acumen
Response of the speciality chemical sub-sector to key business drivers between now and 2015
Business Driver Technological Response
Research and Development
Product Identification
Time-to-Market
Patent Extension Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
ICT to obtain product/market intelligence
ICT to manage technology/project
Novel packaging/delivery technologies
Manufacturing
Complex/Pure Products
Increased Regulation
Cost Containment Novel process control and product monitoring technologies
Capacity to undertake biotransformations
ICT to manage regulatory process
Novel process control and product monitoring technologies
Greater automation
Outsourcing
Increasing opportunities
Food/drugs/electronics Flexible process technology
ICT integration with customer
Technologies to meet the specialty chemical needs of these industries
Product Delivery
Advanced Packaging Packaging technology compatible with customer's process and regulatory requirements
Smart packaging/ease of customer use
Customer/Market
Niche Markets
Localised Products ICT to support globally dispersed customer base
Flexible process technologies that can be rapidly re-engineered for product localisation
Reputation
Ethical
Sustainable
Environmental ICT to increase transparency
Novel manufacturing technologies that exploit renewable feedstocks and minimise energy usage and waste
Novel technologies to reduce or eliminate waste
Table 2 - Technological Response of the pharmaceutical sub-sector to key business drivers between now and 2015
Business Driver Technological Response
Research and Development
Therapeutics
Rapid Discovery
Effectiveness
Time-to-Market
Patent Life Extension Bioinformatics
Combinatorial chemistry and rapid screening technologies
Combination therapies
Drug delivery and medical devices
ICT to facilitate integration of drug research and product development
Combination therapies
Novel manufacturing and formulation
Manufacturing
More Complex Activities/Systems
Increased Regulation
Cost Containment Fewer, more advanced, manufacturing facilities with state-of-the-art process control and product monitoring technologies
Outsourcing of selected steps
Integration of drug delivery systems into the manufacturing process
More links to Centres of Excellence
Incorporation of bio-catalysis and microbial techniques into chemical synthesis
Containment technologies and environmental control
Earlier new product transfer to manufacturing sites
Greater automation of processes and monitoring
ICT to optimise manufacturing processes
Customer/Markets
Demographics (ageing population)
Lower Cost Therapies and Care
Relationship with Customer Drug technologies to meet needs of aging population
Focused portfolio of drugs for treatment and management of families of related diseases
ICT to permit direct marketing to the General Practitioner (GP)
ICT to permit direct exchange of information with GP and with patient
Tailored drug delivery systems (formulation and device) that will facilitate the provision of non-residential, non-specialist health-care
Reputation
Ethical
Sustainable
Environmental ICT to increase transparency
Novel manufacturing technologies that exploit renewable feedstocks and minimise energy usage and waste
Novel technologies to reduce or eliminate waste
Thus not only foresight but also technological foresight is very essential for
the businessman to play well in the modern economy.