CHEMUK 2023 opened its doors on Wed 10th & Thur 11th May at the NEC in Birmingham to a record attendance of 3956 visitors (excluding exhibitor staff) over the two days, representing an increase of 41% from the 2022 edition. The total two-day attendance (visitors plus exhibitors) was 5559.
CHEMUK show founder, Ian Stone, sums up this years’ event: “The industry is now responding to the single ‘destination experience’ of CHEMUK providing deliberately segmented zones of specialist industry capability and solutions, supported with unmissable intelligence, whilst at the same time uniting the entire UK chemical industries ‘value chain’ under one giant roof annually”.
Minister George Freeman leads UK Government briefing
A dedicated video address from the Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, underpinned a comprehensive UK Government presence and input across the two days, with show floor presence and vital conference input from the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Health and Safety Executive. You can watch the full address at www.chemicalukexpo.com.
CHEMLAB Laboratory & Innovation Zone launches at CHEMUK 2023
Commenting on the introduction of the ‘CHEMLAB’ Laboratory & Innovation Zone this year, Stone states, “This addressed, head-on, the need of R&D teams, analytical chemists, and teams in the crucial areas of early-stage growth and scale-up, showcasing a wide range of progressive lab-based solutions from the latest lab automation, chemical analytical tools, speciality services, flow chemistry innovations, innovation ecosystems, and much more, supporting the quality and acceleration of R&D cycles in the chemical, biochemical, and formulated product sectors.”
IChemE adds to the line-up of supporting bodies.
The 2023 show saw the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) join an already impressive line-up of supporting industry and trade bodies both on the show floor and hosting crucial intelligence and keynotes across the integrated CHEMUK conference. This included the likes of CBA, BCA, BASA, BioVale, BCMPA, CPI, CCUK, IBioIC, GAMBICA, NEPIC, SIA, and InnovateUK KTN, to name a few.
RSC at CHEMUK 2023
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) was again at the centre of CHEMUK, with a packed two-day programme including an RSC stand, careers clinic, feature RSC conference sessions, a keynote from current RSC President, Professor Gill Reid, and a dedicated members reception.
‘Sustainability’ ever-present at CHEMUK
Sustainability’ was the common thread across the event this year, with progressive energy and emissions reduction solutions, process optimisation and greater operational efficiency of petro-chemical-based plants, through to a wealth of coverage on developing ‘green chemistry’ innovation supporting the transition towards bio-based chemicals and downstream products. Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-process innovations were reflected across all three zones and extensively through the conference programmes.
Where the magic happens!
CHEMUK has become the only destination in the UK where all the key bodies, major companies, and industry stakeholder groups embracing organic and inorganic synthetics, formulation chemistry, analytical and materials chemistry, industrial biotechnology, and chemical and process engineering are ‘predictably’ in the same ‘time’ and ‘space’, under one giant roof, alongside a wealth of downstream chemical-dependent industries.
Stone reflects on this crucial sector-wide annual convergence under the CHEMUK canopy: “This is where the magic can happen, where conversations can take place with wider networks, outside often restricted ‘silos of interest’ in pursuance of wider common industry goals, fostering exciting dialogue and new project momentum”.
Dates for Diary: CHEMUK 2024 (NEC, Birmingham) Wed 15 & Thu 16 May 2024
