IChemE Seeks Evidence on the Future of Chemical Engineering

The Institution of Chemical Engineers has opened a Presidential Inquiry into how the profession should respond to technological and industrial change. Launched on 29 September, Engineering Tomorrow: The Five Forces Shaping Chemical Engineering seeks contributions from industry, researchers, educators and policymakers.

Its themes span AI and machine learning; decarbonisation, climate adaptation and resilience; new materials and circular production; bio-integration; and modular manufacturing. The inquiry asks what prevents promising approaches from reaching industrial scale and what capabilities engineers will need.

Written evidence should reach policy@icheme.org by 23:59 on 27 November 2026. Practical examples are welcomed, and respondents need not answer every question. A final report and recommendations are planned for early May 2027.

Why this matters for policymakers

• Skills: Consider how education and alternative entry routes can prepare the future workforce.
• Innovation: Examine barriers between research and industrial deployment.
• Regulation: Assess whether safety standards can keep pace with emerging technologies.

Sources: IChemE inquiry overview and timetable; Call for evidence and submission questions (PDF).

Image: Illustrative distillation plant; not an IChemE facility or a project announced in the consultation. User:Luigi Chiesa, CC BY 3.0. Resized and converted to JPEG for display.