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In transforming their R&D Du Pont have had to re think their alignment with the market
and the integration of science disciplines.
In the 20th century, Du Pont was a chemical company at the forefront of the global march
of new materials. In 2002, as it enters its third century, the company has transformed
itself once again, offering not just materials but whole assemblies and services that
combine chemistry with biology, electronics and engineering.
Current high priority research areas for the company include biotechnology (both for
plant breeding and industrial production), electronic materials, and nanotechnology. All
these are treated as enabling technologies - for example, the work on nanoparticles could
find outlets in many areas including electronics and coatings.
An example of bringing together different strands of technology is Sarona, a new fashion
fibre now being test marketed, which has remarkable stretch recovery properties. Sarona
is polytrimethylene terephthalate, known to Du Pont scientists as 3GT. The molecule has
been known for decades, but commercialisation has been held back by the cost of
propane-1,3-diol (the three-carbon glycol referred to in the 3GT nickname). However
DuPont scientists have been working with biotechnology specialists Genencor to make 3G by
a fermentation route.
This has involved taking four separate genes from various species of bacteria and yeasts
and splicing them into E. coli, the bacterial work horse. In partnership with Tate and
Lyle's US subsidiary, Du Pont's scientists have shown that the engineered E. coli can then
make the 3G molecule from glucose derived from cheap corn syrup.
Today Du Pont is based not just on polymer chemistry but a broader range of sciences -
organic and inorganic materials, biotechnology, electronics and on business units aligned
with market sectors rather than organised by the shape of the molecules they make.
While we are not all in the DuPont league there are a number of themes in the article
that are applicable to many businesses:
- The identification of key technologies, aligned to the market, as the "platform" for
growth
- The integration of a number of disciplines
- The use of joint ventures/partnerships to access technology
This item is based on an excellent article in Chemistry in
New Zealand (Vol 66, No. 4 November 2002) and used with the permission of the
Royal Society for Chemistry from Chemistry in
Britain 2002, 38(8).
The Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST) is actively developing
investment strategies for the 2003/04 investment processes and in two overarching areas
of Human Capital and Maori Innovation. These include developing their investment signals
for the following research areas:
- Manufacturing
- Materials and Services
- Innovative Foods
- Infrastructure (Hazards and Minerals), and
- Natural Ecosystems
In addition FRST are also reviewing the New Wealth Creating Enterprises area. These
reviews are at various stages of development and if you believe your business may have a
role in the review or at a later stage in participating in these areas more information
can be found on the FRST website or feel free to contact us.
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