Arthur D. Little: New Report Offers a Blueprint for Overcoming Bottlenecks and Unlocking the Full Potential of Digitalisation in the Chemical Industry
19.4.2023 10:51:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Digitalisation has the power to transform the European chemical industry, revolutionising the sector's solutions and enabling a circular, more sustainable economy in line with the EU Green Deal objectives. This exciting potential is highlighted in a new report from Arthur D. Little and Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, which details how technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things, digital twins, robotics, virtual/augmented reality, and blockchain can accelerate the industry's transformation.
The study titled "Digital Technologies for Sustainability in the European Chemical Industry", is the first ever attempt to outline how these technologies are used in the chemical sector and how they can be scaled up to make the chemical industry’s processes and products more sustainable .
Dr. Daniel Witthaut, Executive Director for Innovation at Cefic, emphasises that while the EU chemical industry has already implemented digitalisation in various applications, there is still much more that can be done:
“Digitalisation in the chemical industry is not new with multiple players already applying digital technologies in their fields. However, enormous opportunities exist for the industry to reach their sustainability goals faster through the application of the latest digital technologies – a journey that is just beginning for most players. And this is where we also need to work more closely with EU institutions to remove existing bottlenecks, improve data sharing and create a larger pool of homegrown talent to implement all these new technologies”.
According to the research, digital technologies can make the greatest contribution in five priority areas in both large and small companies in the EU: (1) process design and production for climate and circularity objectives, (2) sustainability assessment, (3) enabling materials and chemicals circularity through tracking and tracing, (4) sustainable product design, and (5) safe and efficient logistics and distribution.
Dr. Michaël Kolk, Managing Partner at ADL, adds: “Chemical companies in Europe are not only working on their own sustainability objectives, but also providing solutions that serve as enablers for many downstream industries to reach their own. The picture is complex, but we believe that collaboration via greater digitalisation is the way forward.”
The report also highlights a number of challenges that must be addressed to fully realise the potential of digital technologies. These include technological challenges such as data availability, interoperability, standardisation and cybersecurity as well as reluctance among companies to share data, financial costs, organisational issues, and a shortage of digital skills in the workforce. Greater collaboration between EU institutions and the chemical industry will be needed to address some of these bottlenecks.
The report is available for download here: https://tinyurl.com/2s4bztsb
END
About the report
Arthur D. Little and the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) joined forces to prepare this report, which summarises the views of digital technology experts from within and outside the chemical industry.
Recommendations from this report are based on the result of 15 individual interviews with senior digital and sustainability experts (e.g., chief digital officers or chief sustainability officers) as well as a survey of more than 70 experts from 50 companies that are broad representatives of the chemical industry in terms of type of business, size, and region.
To add cross-industry perspectives, the study also took into account input from more than 10 globally recognised digital technology experts outside the chemical industry.
About Cefic
Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, founded in 1972, is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe, which provide 1.2 million jobs and account for approximately about 15% of world chemicals production.
About Arthur D. Little
Arthur D. Little has been at the forefront of innovation since 1886. We are an acknowledged thought leader in linking strategy, innovation and transformation in technology-intensive and converging industries. We navigate our clients through changing business ecosystems to uncover new growth opportunities. We enable our clients to build innovation capabilities and transform their organizations.
Our consultants have strong practical industry experience combined with excellent knowledge of key trends and dynamics. ADL is present in the most important business centers around the world. We are proud to serve most of the Fortune 1000 companies, in addition to other leading firms and public sector organizations.
For further information, please visit www.adlittle.com or www.adl.com.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230419005504/en/
Contact information
Media contact: Marina Mendes
Cefic
+32 499239522
mam@cefic.be
Media contact: Sue Glanville
Catalyst Comms
+44 7715 817589
Glanville.sue@adlittle.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Multi-Color Corporation Initiates Implementation of Restructuring Agreement29.1.2026 08:58:00 EET | Press release
Multi-Color Corporation (“MCC” or the “Company”), a global leader in prime label solutions, today announced that to implement the previously announced restructuring support agreement (the “RSA”), the Company has commenced its prepackaged Chapter 11 filing in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (“the Court”). MCC announced on January 27 it had entered into the RSA with holders of approximately 72% in amount of MCC’s secured first lien debt and its equity sponsor, CD&R, on the terms of a comprehensive financial restructuring. The transactions contemplated by the RSA will significantly deleverage MCC’s balance sheet, reducing its net debt load from approximately $5.9 billion to approximately $2.0 billion. The Company’s annualized cash interest will also be reduced from approximately $475 million to $140 million in 2026, a reduction of over $330 million, with long-term debt maturities extended to 2033 following consummation of the restructuring transactions. A
Takeda Reports Third-Quarter FY2025 Results: Updates Full Year Outlook to Reflect VYVANSE ® Generics Impact, OPEX Discipline and FX Tailwind; Progressing Toward Three Transformative Launches Ahead29.1.2026 08:37:00 EET | Press release
Takeda (TOKYO:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced earnings results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 (nine months ended December 31, 2025). The gap between incremental Growth & Launch Products revenue and VYVANSE erosion is narrowing, and operational efficiencies drove year-on-year reductions in operating expenses, including R&D. The company raised its full-year forecasts based on cost discipline and FX tailwind, while its Revenue Management Guidance has been updated primarily due to the impact of VYVANSE generics. Takeda is positioned for long-term growth and has multiple late-stage programs with multibillion-dollar peak revenue potential. Following the positive readouts from Phase 3 studies in 2025, the company has submitted New Drug Applications (NDAs) for oveporexton and rusfertide and is on track to file an NDA for zasocitinib. Each of these programs, which Takeda expects to launch within the next 18 months, has the potential to redefine standards of care, transform patient liv
Ubitus Partners with Maizuru City, Kyoto to Launch AI Data Center Project, Advancing the Deployment of a Top-Tier AI GPU Center in Japan29.1.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Ubitus K.K. (Headquarters: Shinjuku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Wesley Kuo), a global leader in cloud streaming and AI solutions, today announced that it will hold a land signing ceremony and press conference with Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture, on January 29, 2026. At the event, Ubitus will officially unveil its comprehensive plan to construct an AI Data Center in Maizuru City, marking the company’s transition into the physical construction phase of its initiative to build a top-tier AI GPU center in Japan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128944842/en/ Ubitus will launch its Maizuru City AI Data Center project on January 29, marking the first step toward building a top-tier AI GPU center in Japan. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and NeoCloud, the project strengthens Japan’s AI infrastructure and regional development. This land agreement represents the first major milestone following Ubitus’ sel
Galderma Unveils ‘Wake Up To Restylane’, Underscoring Restylane as the Ideal Hyaluronic Acid Treatment for Always-On Natural Beauty29.1.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Galderma (SIX: GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, has launched ‘Wake Up To Restylane’, a global campaign that showcases Restylane as an everyday beauty ally. Aligned with the growing desire for effortless, authentic results that restore facial balance and improve skin quality, the campaign highlights Restylane’s unique ability to deliver personalized results that move naturally with expressions to help people look and feel good.1,6,12-18 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128829353/en/ The launch was unveiled at the IMCAS World Congress 2026 in Paris, where Galderma also presented new clinical data reinforcing Restylane’s efficacy across key facial areas such as the chin, jawline, temples, as well as the décolletage, underscoring its unique position as the only HA portfolio offering a variety of formulations for tailored outcomes.1,8-11 “What's compelling about ‘Wake Up To Restylane’ is its focu
Lattice to Showcase Advanced Edge AI Solutions at the FPGA-forum 202628.1.2026 23:00:00 EET | Press release
Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC), the low power programmable leader, today announced its exhibition plan for the upcoming FPGA-forum 2026 taking place February 11 – 12, 2026 in Trondheim, Norway. As part of the event, Lattice Corporate Vice President of Software Solutions and Applications Engineering Eleena Ong will deliver a keynote presentation exploring how rapidly maturing AI technologies can turn FPGA platforms into innovation canvases for a much broader range of developers, sparking new application possibilities. Lattice will also deliver a technical presentation and host a demo showcase focused on how its low power FPGA solutions are advancing connectivity and edge AI applications. Who: Lattice Semiconductor What / When (GMT+1): Lattice Demo Showcase (Table #3), Feb 11-12 Keynote Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m. “Unlocking the Next Wave of FPGA Innovators with Generative and Agentic AI” Technical Presentation Feb. 12, 10 a.m. “Smaller. Cooler. Smarter: Lattice FPGAs’ Path to Uncompromised
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom