Chemicals are critical to the UK’s national security, resilience and economy. They underpin essential sectors such as food, healthcare, energy and defence. However, despite its strategic importance, there are substantial pressures facing the UK chemical sector, including high energy costs, ageing infrastructure, and under-investment in innovation. These pressures are compounded by regulatory complexity, policy instability, the absence of a long-term strategy, and fragmented responsibility across government.
In response to these challenges, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) has been advising government this year on the conditions needed to safeguard critical chemical capabilities while supporting innovation and growth. On 25 August, CST published a letter with two specific recommendations:
Recommendation 1: Ministerial accountability for capabilities and innovation
CST’s first recommendation was to appoint a minister with accountability for safeguarding the UK’s critical chemical capabilities and delivering future innovation and empowered to coordinate policy across government, identify the sector’s role in delivering government priorities, and resolve trade-offs between policies and departments.
Government has now appointed a Minister for Reindustrialisation, sitting across the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) with responsibility for chemicals.
Recommendation 2: A roadmap based on national outcomes
CST’s second recommendation was for government to develop a clear, long-term roadmap for the UK chemical sector within 12 months. It should define the national outcomes, capabilities, and supply chains needed for resilience in 2035, then identify the actions, assets, skills, and regulatory conditions required.
The roadmap should guide government, businesses, and investors in deciding which capabilities to retain domestically and where reliable alternatives could meet national needs. It should also address the viability, innovation, investment, and the transition to a competitive, lower-carbon, and more circular industry, supported by proportionate regulation that protects people and the environment.
CST will continue to support government to explore the challenges faced by the chemical sector and solutions to them. This will include through engagement with the wider community at an event co-hosted with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FST) coming December 2026.
Read CST’s full advice on achieving stability and growth in the UK chemical sector and follow the CST blog for future updates.
Leave a comment