Driving innovation in Scottish chemical sciences

In an interview after ChemUK 2024, we spoke to Dr Alan Wiles, Chief Operating Officer of ScotChem. He discussed the organisation’s mission, significant impact on the community and ongoing efforts to increase innovation and collaboration in Scotland’s chemical sciences sector.

Can you introduce yourself and your professional experience?

My name is Dr Alan Wiles, Chief Operating Officer of ScotChem. I am a research chemist by education, working on organic electronic materials.

I joined ScotChem in 2020 to support early-career chemistry researchers and work more closely to connect academia and industry.

Can you summarize ScotCHEM’s mission and its key role in Scotland’s chemical sciences sector?

ScotChem is the strategic chemical sciences alliance in Scotland. We connect industry, academia, government, the third sector and communities to advance the chemical sciences sector.

We achieve this by supporting collaboration between academic and industry partners, working with the Scottish and UK Governments to engage with industry, and promoting chemical sciences to wider communities.

How does ScotCHEM support the transformation of academic research into viable commercial ventures, particularly through university spin-in and spin-out initiatives?

ScotChem’s primary function is to support discovery and translate research into real-world applications.

Our ScotChem INDUSTRIES provides support, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), combining them with academic knowledge to solve chemistry-related problems and connecting researchers with companies of all scales to support the translation of research to various technology readiness levels (TRLs). We also connect our businesses across our wider network of government departments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local authorities and more.

We provide training through our network of industry members so that researchers can better understand the commercialization process. Activities range from networking events, entrepreneurship camps and master classes.

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Could you elaborate on ScotCHEM’s role in helping startups secure funding and navigate the scaling process?

ScotChem focuses on providing start-ups with access to the right level of key commercial knowledge.

This support may include providing expertise in intellectual property (IP) strategy, valuation and tax incentives, as well as recommending funding routes (particularly those available in Scotland) and offering advice on developing the company’s communications to increase its visibility.

Our network can also help businesses relocate and expand by connecting them with local authorities in Scotland.

How does ScotCHEM work with policymakers to create an environment that supports innovation in the chemical sciences?

ScotChem plays a key role in representing the Scottish chemical sciences sector to the Scottish Government. We do this through interactions between all relevant government departments and through the ScotChem Chemical Sciences Industry Leadership Group (ILG).

ILG, initiated and co-chaired by ScotChem, brings together the chemical sciences industry with Scottish Government with the involvement of high-level government departments, helping to set national chemical sciences agendas.

In addition, ScotChem supports the sector at UK level, working with government departments, research and technology organizations (RTOs) and funding agencies to improve the environment for innovation.

For example, we are currently cooperating with the Institute of Advanced Materials. Henry Royce to develop a new national materials innovation strategy. This industry-led strategy will underpin a supportive innovation environment for materials across all industry sectors.

How is ScotCHEM working to integrate academia, industry and government to support a cohesive innovation ecosystem?

ScotChem’s main goal is to connect academia, industry and government to support a coherent system of innovation. We achieve this by building strong relationships between these sectors and taking the initiative to bring together relevant stakeholders in networks, partnerships and collaboration.

We pride ourselves on knowing the players in each sector and identifying the optimal time to bring them together to build our connected innovation ecosystem.

What skills are key for the future chemical sciences workforce and what initiatives has ScotCHEM launched to support skills development?

All industries in all sectors recognize a suitably skilled workforce as crucial to delivering and implementing innovation. The requirements are broad and include building on existing skills, developing new skills and providing skills training.

Some skills, such as digital skills, are transversal, while other areas require specific new skills that vary by sector. These may include new types of career paths and qualifications, upskilling or reskilling of the existing workforce, or entirely new job roles.

ScotChem’s key role is to identify specific skills needs and work with education providers to create integrated education and career pathways. These pathways aim to maximize the economic and social benefits of emerging employment opportunities offered by ScotChem ILG.

How does ScotCHEM engage with communities and society to promote inclusion and support for chemical sciences?

Another strategic goal of ScotChem is to promote chemical sciences to a broad audience and community, with a particular emphasis on reaching underrepresented communities.

We run school-based programs, making it easier for researchers and industry experts to get more involved in supporting teachers and students to understand important issues (like net zero).

We also run wider community activities to engage young people and their families in STEM. For example, one of our current programs uses the expertise of chemists who are also accredited magicians to teach basic scientific principles through magic tricks. This program has proven to be our most popular to date!

What new areas or challenges are ScotCHEM prioritizing to increase innovation and support in Scotland’s chemical sciences sector?

Sustainability is probably the biggest challenge for the chemical sciences sector. Sustainability measures impact almost every company in every sector, and chemical sciences are fundamental to achieving net zero.

However, this creates numerous opportunities for our industry and researchers to lead global efforts to find sustainable solutions, from energy to waste valorization. Every challenge presents an opportunity for innovation, especially in creating value in a more circular economy.

This year, ScotCHEM hosted an expert panel session at CHEMUK. Could you highlight the main theme of the session and its importance to the chemical sciences community?

ScotChem’s mission is to connect key players in industry, academia, government, the third sector and communities.

The UK is great at discovery – finding new products and processes. We are less good at commercializing these brilliant discoveries. A connected innovation system is crucial to achieving the economic and social benefits of our discoveries.

The panel session aimed to highlight how start-ups and micro-enterprises can navigate the UK innovation system. Participants were carefully selected for their expertise in different parts of the innovation ecosystem.

It is vital that the UK has a coherent innovation ecosystem and that innovators know how and where to access the right parts of that ecosystem.

What advice would you give to researchers and entrepreneurs starting their innovation journey and how can they leverage ScotCHEM’s resources and support?

We advise our researchers and entrepreneurs to contact ScotChem as early in their journey as possible. We are here to make connections, provide direct advice and expertise or refer them to appropriate expertise outside ScotChem.

We’re here to help and it’s never too early to start working with us!

About Dr. Alan Wiles

Dr. Alan Wiles graduated from high school in France with a bachelor’s degree in science and engineering. He then obtained a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry (Heriot-Watt) and an MSc in Organic Synthesis (University of Manchester), completing his education with a PhD. in Organic Electronics (University of Glasgow).

Dr. Wiles then continued his academic career as a researcher at the University of Glasgow, investigating organic electronic materials for energy harvesting, storage and other optoelectronic applications.

He then moved to ScotChem in 2020 to provide greater support to early career researchers at ScotChem. As Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Wiles has significantly expanded ScotChem’s reach and visibility beyond its academic network roots and is now responsible for the entire scope of ScotChem’s activities.

Where can readers find more information?

Website: Scotchem.ac.uk

ScotCHEM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scotchem/