ICI Exhibition Booklet - Flipbook - Page 17
Enablers For Innovation, 1927-2008
‘A company that recognises and nurtures growth points in science.’
– Peter Doyle, ICI Director of Research 1980s
Throughout its history, ICI was an established place of science, community, and
commercialisation; a place for innovation.
This was possible because of several key elements at its core:
Long term vision
Collectively, these elements allowed the company to invent
and capitalise on the science and technology of the day,
while breeding the innovations of tomorrow. This required
a long term view, continually assessing new horizons and
opportunities for development.
People
A sense of community was part of ICI
culture; workers clubs and councils
encouraged employees to share ideas and
voice complaints.
Managers and committed members were not
removed from the scientific process. Hence,
people like Prof Robert Robinson suggested
viable reactions for study.
ICI recruited bright young scientists, technicians,
and engineers, bringing together the best minds
possible.
Commitment to R&D
Within three years of formation, ICI’s research
expenditure was estimated to be £1.2 million.
There was a firm belief in ‘blue sky’ research,
without which polythene (and the huge
market it now occupies) would not have been
discovered.
Although in later years, focus shifted to
‘applied’ and ‘strategic’ research, ICI still
committed to investment in R&D.
Focus on Science
From its formation, ICI held science at its core,
steeped in the history of Ludwig Mond and Alfred
Nobel – firm believers that research paves the way
for industrial progress.
Value of the industrial scientist
Without these scientists and the ablility to
transform academic research into commercial
processes, we would not live in the world we do
today.
Perspex is just one example of a product that
needed a commerically viable route to
manufacture.
Others, such as the first polyester, Terylene,
and Electrodyn, the agrochemical spray,
were brought to ICI for development as the
company had the necessary size and resources.
Entrepreneurship
From its inception, ICI focused on innovation as
a means for driving growth and value.
It went on to become the bellwether of
British industry, filing more than 33,000 patents
and employing hundreds of thousands of
people globally.
New horizons were continually sought. Plastics,
fibres, pharmaceuticals, and, in later years,
green chemistry and genetic fingerprinting all
spawned business ventures of their own.
SCI was established in 1881 by prominent Scientists, Inventors, and
Entrepreneurs.
SCI is still focused today on the same charitable objective: to further the
application of chemistry and related sciences into industry for the public benefit.
SCI contributes to the public understanding of science
SCI fosters innovation through networking and education
SCI tackles global challenges across Energy, Environment,
Materials, AgriFood, Health and Wellbeing
SCI supports the commercial application of science into
industry