There are several key drivers behind the high competition in catalysis:
Economic Impact: Catalysts are crucial in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and energy industries, which are multi-billion-dollar sectors. Improvements in catalytic processes can lead to significant cost savings and competitive advantages. Environmental Regulations: Stricter environmental regulations necessitate the development of greener and more sustainable catalytic processes. This drives intense research and development efforts to meet these regulatory requirements. Technological Advancements: Rapid advancements in materials science, nanotechnology, and computational chemistry open new avenues for catalyst design, leading to a race to discover and patent innovative catalysts.