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 News & Notices

Minutes of 71st Bureau
26-27 September 1998, Frankfurt, Germany


5. STRATEGIC PLAN, 1998-9

The President noted that the generation of the Strategic Plan has been a central activity of the Union for the past year. There has been extensive consultation during this time with the global chemistry community both inside and outside IUPAC. This plan will determine the course of the Union's activities for the coming decades. The current document was circulated to the Bureau for comment. The comments received were taken into account in preparing the final version of the plan approved by the Executive Committee.

This Plan is the first attempt to describe both the inwardly directed and the outwardly directed goals of the Union. The Strategic Plan explains and articulates the policy guidelines of the Union and provides guidance to the operating arms of the Union, the Divisions and Standing Committees.

Prof. Jortner expressed the thanks of the Bureau to the members of the SDIC and especially to the Secretary General. The Bureau unanimously approved this vote of thanks.

The Secretary General noted that the process of obtaining comments had been extensive and that many useful comments had been obtained from the Bureau and incorporated in the final document. Dr. Becker then briefly described the proposed process for updating the Strategic Plan contained in the material circulated to the Bureau (see Attachment 1)

The Draft Operating Plans provided for the EC/Bureau/Secretariat, Committee on Printed and Electronic Publications and CHEMRAWN provide models for the preparation of similar plans by the Divisions and Standing Committees. These operating plans will assist in explaining IUPAC's work to others and will also provide a structure to allow Divisions and Standing Committees to examine their activities.

Prof. Jortner noted that the comments received from NAOs have been very positive. There was some discussion of the difficulty in involving the NAOs in the work of IUPAC. It was felt that the process of updating the Strategic Plan had the potential to provide a mechanism for increased involvement by the NAOs. The group was reminded that the updating process envisaged was for the Strategic Thrusts. The long-range goals are expected to require little if any modification in the medium term (5-10 years).

There was some discussion as to whether IUPAC could have any effect on promoting chemical research as stated in Goal 2. The consensus was that in the sense meant, that is, in providing tools for the conduct of chemical research, Goal 2 was one to which IUPAC could reasonably expect to contribute. The group also felt that the use of the phrase chemical sciences was beneficial in emphasizing IUPAC's involvement with applied chemistry and not only basic research. The suggestion was made that the phrase "chemistry related industry" in Goal 3 could be replaced by "chemical sciences". The strategic thrusts connected to this goal should emphasize industry and applied chemistry.

Dr. Hayes noted that his Vice Presidential Critical Assessment would have as one of its areas of focus the relations of the Union with industry, especially with trade associations such as CMA, CEFIC and ICCA. He also commented that another focus of his VPCA would be relations with national chemical societies, especially those that are not the National Adhering Organization for their country.

Prof. Steyn moved that the Bureau endorse the Mission Statement as written. The Bureau then endorsed the Mission Statement.

The President asked that the Bureau approve the implementation and updating process described in the paper from the Secretary General. The Bureau unanimously approved both the implementation plan and the updating process for the Strategic Plan.


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