WCEC connects chemical engineering federations worldwide to strengthen the role of chemical engineering at the service of society, industry and the planet.
WCEC supports the World Congresses of Chemical Engineering, promotes the profession, develop a Global Agenda, and provides a platform for international cooperation, visibility and recognition.
Links chemical engineering confederations, societies and leaders worldwide.
Coordinates the World Congresses of Chemical Engineering and supports regional confederation events.
Highlights the role of chemical engineering in serving society, industry and the planet through scientific knowledge, industrial innovation and sustainable development.
Supports global recognition through the WCEC Awards.
An increasing world population, finite natural resources and the economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century require innovative chemical engineering solutions at a global scale.
Chemical engineering and related sciences play a key role in addressing society’s future needs by advancing sustainable process industries, energy transition, circular economy, bioeconomy, digital transformation, materials and education, while developing products and solutions that support water, food, health, wellbeing and environmental protection.
To be a worldwide organisation qualified to identify, respond to and add value to global issues, opportunities and obligations facing the chemical engineering profession, the industries served by chemical engineers and the societies they impact.
WCEC provides frameworks and forums for the discussion, development and dissemination of information, knowledge and recommended actions on global issues where chemical engineering plays an important role.
WCEC focuses on:
WCEC aims to:
The World Chemical Engineering Council was founded in 2001 at the World Congress of Chemical Engineering in Melbourne, Australia, to provide a global platform for chemical engineering cooperation.
Before WCEC, the international chemical engineering community was mainly represented by three regional federations:
While these federations played an essential role in connecting national societies, the structure did not cover all countries or regions and made it difficult to address chemical engineering issues of a truly global nature.
WCEC was created to strengthen international coordination, support global dialogue and provide a common platform for the chemical engineering profession.
Its foundation responded to a clear need: chemical engineering was increasingly facing challenges that went beyond individual countries or regions.
The World Congress of Chemical Engineering has always been central to WCEC’s history. Before the Council was created, it was the main joint activity of the regional federations, taking place in different regions of the world.
Today, WCEC works with the host organization to shape the program of the World Congresses of Chemical Engineering.
WCEC operates as a lean international council formed by representatives of chemical engineering federations, member societies and World Congress leadership.
Its governance structure is designed to support international coordination, continuity and representation across the global chemical engineering community.
According to its statutes, WCEC includes 20 voting members, including the President, Vice-President, delegates from regional federations and representatives connected to previous and upcoming World Congresses.
The President, Past-President, Vice-President and Secretariat support the Council’s work and ensure continuity between meetings.
The President and Secretariat coordinate meetings, prepare agendas, circulate minutes, support project reports and maintain the Council’s documentation.
WCEC normally meets twice a year, often alongside World Congresses, federation congresses or national conferences. Meetings also take place online when appropriate.
The official statutes define WCEC’s composition, terms of office, meetings, voting rules and operating principles.
For enquiries about WCEC, please contact the WCEC Secretariat.
Willi Meier
General Secretary, World Chemical Engineering Council
Email:
Carlos Negro
President, World Chemical Engineering Council
Email: