Strategic Plan

In 1998, following a series of meetings to obtain input from leaders in chemistry in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, IUPAC redefined its mission and established goals and strategies to guide its approach to the shaping of the chemical sciences and the service of chemistry in a rapidly changing world. The initial IUPAC Strategic Plan was revised slightly in 2000, and again in 2002. In the fall of 2014,  a Task Group was formed from 2014-2015 Bureau members and led by President Mark Cesa to perform a comprehensive strategy review. This strategy review focused on the following critical questions:

• How should IUPAC balance its emphasis on its traditional strengths in chemistry with new and emerging science?
• How should IUPAC distinguish itself from other organizations serving aspects of the chemistry community?
• How can IUPAC make its knowledge and expertise usable to benefit the greater society, and in particular the developing world?

A particular emphasis of the strategy review was to define the unique role of IUPAC within the chemistry enterprise so that the Union can distinguish itself as a necessary and valued contributor to the advancement of chemistry.  Another was to help establish ways that IUPAC can assist the chemistry community in collaborating with scientists in other fields, engineers, technologists, and policy makers to solve critical world problems through its in-depth knowledge of the chemical sciences.

The new strategic plan aims to define IUPAC’s unique role and value within the chemical enterprise so that the Union’s contributions are recognized for their impact in ways that no other chemical society or organization can do alone.  Clear and consistent communication of IUPAC’s contributions and value to the broader chemistry community, other unions, and the public can result.  This new vision is expected to help generate new projects in new areas that focus on issues of strategic importance to IUPAC.

In the updated Strategy, we determined that our Core Values should be articulated. They are principles that guide the conduct of the Union and its relationships with its stakeholders.  IUPAC’s core values emphasize scientific excellence, communication, transparency, diversity, and ethical behavior.  These behaviors are practiced by all of the Union’s volunteers, staff and stakeholders.

The mission statement articulates IUPAC’s purpose for its stakeholders and answers the What, How and Why questions surrounding IUPAC and its functions.

Our Vision

IUPAC is an indispensable worldwide resource for chemistry

Our Mission

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is the global organization that provides objective scientific expertise and develops the essential tools for the application and communication of chemical knowledge for the benefit of humankind and the world.

IUPAC accomplishes its mission by fostering sustainable development, providing a common language for chemistry, and advocating the free exchange of scientific information.

In fulfilling this mission, IUPAC effectively contributes to the worldwide understanding and application of the chemical sciences, to the betterment of humankind.

Our Core Values

Our core values are the guiding principles that guide the conduct of the Union and its relationships with its stakeholders.  IUPAC’s core values emphasize scientific excellence, communication, transparency, diversity, and ethical behavior.  These behaviors are practiced by all of the Union’s volunteers, staff and stakeholders.

• We serve humankind by advancing chemistry worldwide.
• We view scientific excellence and objectivity as the cornerstone of all our work.
• We value collaboration and communication among all our stakeholders.
• We strive for diversity and inclusiveness in all forms.
• We respect each other and the Union.
• We uphold the highest standards of transparent, responsible and ethical behavior.