Reproducibility crisis
Reactions that fail to work consistently cause frustration and waste time, energy and expensive reagents. Even when it seems all variables are carefully controlled, yields can vary hugely, or reactions can fail altogether. In a survey of this ‘reproducibility crisis’ in science (Nature, 2016, 533, 452), almost 90% of chemists said they had failed to successfully repeat someone else’s experiment.
AI focus on oncology
Artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery is promising to drastically cut down timelines and costs of bringing new therapies to patients. IDTechEx has analysed 25 AI drug discovery companies (out of 100 companies identified) that are actively developing drug candidates and have published detailed information on their pipeline (AI in Drug Discovery 2021: Players, Technologies, and Applications).
Thin-walled packaging
Global forecasts for the thin-walled plastic packaging market are rising significantly. By 2028, the packaging market will be worth an estimated $1.2tn, expanding at a CAGR of approximately 3%, according to a report by multinational consultancy Smithers. Food and beverage, and more widespread adoption of thin-walled packaging in developing economies, will drive this growth.
Learning curve
The fact remains that in the last two years alone, UK employers have lost £2bn in apprentice-ship levy funds that they have been unable to spend. Read the comment by Adrian Grove, business development director, Qube Learning.
Entrepreneurial advice
Parallel to a long list of skills entrepreneurs must excel at, lies a list of pitfalls they must watch out for. First on my list is, listen to others - but not too much. Read the comment from Natasha Boulding, CEO and founder, Sphera.
Accelerating electrification
The IEA released a report detailing the steps to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It sets out 400 milestones, …such as ceasing new construction of coal and oil power plants, phasing out unabated ones by 2040 and calling an end to investment in fossil fuels.
AI in drug discovery
The development of pharmaceutical drugs is a long costly process. AI has been successfully applied to speed up virtual screening, de novo drug discovery, and can be utilised to optimise compounds to have drug-like properties.
Biospecimen procurement
In the UK and Western Europe, there is a high level of concern about the ethics of trade in human tissue, so brokers find it much easier to source samples in other parts of the world. Read the comment from Robert Hewitt, founder of Biosample Hub
Future engineers
This new breed of data-driven service engineer will be able to identify and fix potential problems with machinery before they cause an issue on the line, and, potentially, before a manufacturer even realises there is a problem. Read the comment from Eddie Storan, Head of Global Service, Domino Printing Sciences.
Cannabis and lab facilities
Further easing of import restrictions by the UK Government will provide faster access to patients prescribed cannabis-based medicines — removing yet another barrier in a market expected to grow in the coming years. The use of legal cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans (CBPMs) is expected to be worth £2.3bn by 2024.