In this section
@techreport{Shah:2026,
author = {Shah, N and Doliente, S and Hallett, J and Hellgardt, K and Barlow, J},
publisher = {³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ},
title = {Fine Chemicals Sector 2025. Sectoral systems of innovation and the UK’s competitiveness},
year = {2026}
}
TY - RPRT
AB - Executive SummaryWe are extremely grateful to Lord DavidSainsbury and the Gatsby Charitable Foundationfor generously supporting this sectoral studyof the fine chemicals industry. It is a sector withsignificant contributions to the UK’s economy(both directly and by underpinning other sectors)but is facing multiple challenges within andoutside the UK. As such, it deserves a closerinspection of its status and the developmentof potential interventions. We aimed to providea diagnosis of the industry by looking at itslandscape, productivity, skills requirements,technology, innovation, business, and regulatoryenvironment. We coupled these with deep diveswith UK chemical industry organisations tosupport our findings. Based on these analysesand stakeholder engagements, we developedour high-level conclusions, recommendations tostakeholders, and areas of further detailed study.Our key conclusions so far are the following:• The global fine chemicals industry is a thriving andgrowing industry marked by a competitive market,wherein the major players dominate at 40% to 45%.Most of the fine chemicals businesses are involvedin manufacturing (80% of the market). Having R&Dcapabilities, manufacturing expertise & efficiency,supply chain management, global presence reach,and regulatory compliance are crucial competitiveadvantages in the global landscape.• Being the birthplace of fine chemicals, the UK’s industryhas been well-established with highly diversifiedproducts. The UK’s fine chemicals sector interlinks itsown bulk (or commodity) chemicals industry to variousend-use sectors within the country and internationally.Our estimates show that fine chemicals contribute 40%of the GDP value of chemical manufacturing (£11bn to£12bn), which is commonly reported.• The UK’s broad chemicals industry (bulk + fine), whilesignificant, has struggled with consistent productivitygrowth since the global financial crisis. The industry’sin
AU - Shah,N
AU - Doliente,S
AU - Hallett,J
AU - Hellgardt,K
AU - Barlow,J
PB - ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
PY - 2026///
TI - Fine Chemicals Sector 2025. Sectoral systems of innovation and the UK’s competitiveness
ER -