Chemistry as a research area introduces to young doctoral trainees the excitement of the scientific frontier, provioding experience in problem solving, information handling, organizatioon, interpretation and presentation. It teaches practical skills involving the manipulation of chemicals and the use of sophisticated analytical instrumentation for the interpretation of phenomena. The result of the research are of immediate benefit to other chemists and scientists in related disciplines and in many cases also to industrial R & D groupsChemistry is thus and interdisciplinary science with high industrial relevance.

The chemical industry in our country has grown to its present importance through  a sleady stream of innovation in products and processes. Many new ideas, concepts and techniques come from continual contact with fundamental and appliede research in chemistry and chemical engineering. These provide the intellectual  driving force of innovation. Witjout research in chemistry chemicals engineering there would be markedly fewer improvements in the quality of life.

While chemistry, at the research level, is a relatively small-scale activity, often involving only small teams, it is essential to ensure proper provisions of  laboratoryfacilities to meet health and safety needs. State- of -the- art analytical instrumentation must be made availabel at the laboratory level and effective in house research support should be provided.

There is a strong correspondence between academic training and research objectives and industrial research and development objectives. Links between academia and industry can operate in a variety of ways. These includes a full contract between an industrial organization or consortium with one laboratory, or a group of laboratories, engaged on pre-competitive or compititive  research. The latter of necessity raises the issues of confidentiality and intellectual property. Looser contracts for general collaboration on genetic research themes, designed to give industry a foothold or access to intellectual capabilty and expertise in an area of potential or presently peripheral interest, are also used. A balance needs to be struck between fundamental research in academic institutions and collaborative research between academic institutions and industry.