Unlike physics, which has made greater impact in the first half of the twentieth century, chemistry has made steady progress in the last hundred years. It is taking an increasing role as creator and enabler in materials science and biology, in particular learning from nature how to mimic biological processes by simpler chemical reactions.

In the longer term, chemistry is going to create materials with extra-ordinary properties as yet undreamed of which will dramatically improve communications, healthcare, environmental monitoring and transport. Chemistry will stimulate and support innovation in all of the other branches of science and technology.

In the near future, taking into account the relationship between research in chemistry within academic institutions and the needs of industry, there are certain essential priorities like (i) the need for well- trained, imaginative molecule makers and (ii) the need to encourage and deepn our understanding of the properties of matter and of the way in which and the speed at which chemical processes occur.