Chapter 12 Entrepreneurship and product design in chemical engineering education

Abstract

This chapter discusses entrepreneurship and product design in chemical engineering education. The chapter presents experience in teaching Chemical Engineering students in Hong Kong the basic elements of successful entrepreneurship and product design, through the final year design project. Chemical Engineering is a young profession in Hong Kong with the baccalaureate degree program established in 1993. Despite the lack of traditional chemical industries in Hong Kong, graduates easily find a career in many chemical-related industries and businesses including food and beverage, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals and electronics. Most of these industries emphasize on product rather than process, therefore a good background in product-oriented design is a must. The proximity to inexpensive labor and growing consumer market in China provide students the unprecedented opportunity to establish their own business and enterprise. The chemical engineering profession maintains a small but visible presence in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) registered 30 chartered chemical engineers and 93 chartered gas engineers. The lack of natural resources and high cost of land preclude the construction of large chemical and petrochemical plants in Hong Kong, instead small- and medium-scale fuel and gas-processing plants supplied the local needs.