The number of hours worked by ALL engineers and scientists around the world in the last decade (2005-2014) is EQUAL to the number of hours worked by ALL engineers and scientists in the last century (1900-1999). Yes, the number of graduating students with an engineering/science degree has exploded since the 1970s. The millions of new engineers around the globe nowadays are contributing to the creation of new materials, processes, products, etc.
When a Japanese scientist made a breakthrough on an engineering subject in the 1950s, it took months and perhaps years before it reached Europe or the USA, where the invention could be used and lead to innovation in these regions. With the INTERNET and evolution towards open-source knowledge, new innovations are available instantly and globally.
These two factors—many more educated people and much faster communication—are the main contributors leading to an exponential increase in TECHNOLOGY CHANGE. And it’s only starting.
I am convinced that in 2222—just to take a point in the future—the period around the turn of the century (1990 to 2010) will be recognized as the period in which the ACCELERATION of CHANGE really took off.
We’ll have to fasten our seatbelts, as the pace of change will only increase.
The role of polymers and plastics in this age of transformation is huge. Polymers and plastics have outperformed all other materials in terms of growth rate, number of new applications, advancements, innovations, etc. Since the 1970s plastics have indeed grown at an average rate of 6% per year, while materials such as steel and paper grew only 2 to 3%.
Not only have polymers and plastics brought a lot of comfort to our lives, they have saved and prolonged our lives as well—whether it’s applications in the medical field or for safety and security. And many more applications will arise in the future. I foresee, for instance, a full plastic car 25 years from now. Who had imagined 30 years ago that the wings and fuselage of aircraft would be made from plastic?
What else will the FUTURE bring us?
Technology advancements in nanoparticles, 3-D and 4-D printing and additive manufacturing, intelligent and smart plastics, conductive and color-changing polymers, composite materials, … (just to name a few)—together with new, still-to-be-discovered polymers and plastics applications—will continue to change our world! At an increasing pace!
What’s the role of the Society of Plastics Engineers in all this?
SPE is an important ENABLER in this. With our network in 84 countries around the world, we connect the most brilliant minds in our industry together. Our publications, conferences, data- bases, webinars, and other educational services are an important stimulus of increased technical education for the inventors of tomorrow.
With a history of over 70 years, SPE will continue to be one of your important resources, feeding you the newest innovations and advancements in our industry … and most of all, keeping you up to speed on the highway of CHANGE, on which we will have to move faster and faster.…
Wim De Vos
CEO, SPE