Page 154 - CW E-Magazine (19-8-2025)

News from Abroad

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION
CAS SciFinder integrates science-smart AI capabilities

to enhance R&D efficiency

CAS, a division of the American technologies to the high-quality, struc- streamline future searches. To ensure
Chemical Society specialising in scienti- tured data in the CAS Content Collec- the security of all user queries, results,
fic knowledge management, has tion and engaging our team of scientists and interactions in CAS SciFinder, AI
announced the launch of the next to verify the advanced AI models ena- features operate within a closed system.
evolution of CAS SciFinder, the scienti- bled us to develop a science-smart AI
fic search and insights platform. approach that delivers accurate and Innovation in retrosynthesis
reliable answers scientists can trust.” CAS has also announced the intro-
“By integrating AI-optimised for duction of a real-time, interactive
scientific applications – with the larg- SearchSense, a collection of new synthetic planning tool. “This is a para-
est human-curated collection of global AI-driven search capabilities in CAS digm shift for chemists that slashes the
scientific knowledge, CAS SciFinder SciFinder, was developed to make time needed to generate a synthetic plan
empowers researchers across R&D to scientific information more accessi- from minutes to just a few seconds. By
work faster and unlock new opportuni- ble across R&D workflows and help eliminating wait times and providing
ties for innovation. This marks the most researchers reach actionable answers real-world evidence directly in synthe-
significant integration of AI within the faster. With a single search box, users tic maps for quick comparison, Inter-
CAS solution portfolio to date,” CAS can initiate a broad range of inquiries active Retrosynthesis in CAS SciFinder
said in a press note. by asking simple questions using natu- significantly increases efficiency and
ral language. AI-enabled summaries enables greater creativity in reaction
“Scientific information is diverse help users quickly interpret results planning and optimisation,” CAS said.
and complex, making it challenging and pinpoint the most relevant infor- CAS informed that patent details have
for common AI tools to interpret accu- mation to provide a clear answer they also been added to CAS SciFinder so
rately,” noted Mr. Tim Wahlberg, CAS trust. The platform also learns from that users can easily identify prior art
Chief Product Officer. “Applying these user activity to personalise results and within their typical workflow.

EXPANSION
DIC plans new epoxy resins facility at Chiba site

Japanese chemicals firm, DIC Corpo- of industries. DIC began producing and vital, DIC said. The Chiba plant’s existing
ration, has revealed its intention to build a selling epoxy resins in 1968 and has ca- epoxy resins production facility does not
new epoxy resins production facility at its tered to customers in the electronics in- currently have sufficient supply capacity
Chiba plant in Japan. The move is part of dustry by leveraging its polymer design – to meet the expected increase in demand
its focus on materials for semiconductor based development configuration – which going forward. “Accordingly, by con-
packaging and cutting-edge electronics encompasses everything from the raw structing a new facility adjacent to the
components, demand for which is expec- materials through to finished products – as existing one, DIC aims to secure additional
ted to grow in the future. well as its mass-production capabilities. production capacity for epoxy resins over
In particular, the company said its epoxy the medium to long term, and to intro-
The investment plan is expected to resins have become indispensable to the duce new production processes that will
receive a Japanese government subsidy fabrication of semiconductors that impart deliver world-class quality and improved
of up to ¥3-bn ($20-mn). the excellent heat resistance, improved productivity, thereby enhancing its com-
dimensional stability and reduced trans- petitiveness,” the company informed.
Epoxy resins are highly reactive thermo- mission loss necessary to accommodate
setting synthetic resins that boast excep- increasingly high-speed, high-capa- The plant is expected to start opera-
tional mouldability, heat resistance, elec- city communications technologies. With tions by July 2029, resulting in an increase
trical insulating properties and adhesive- demand for semiconductors expanding, in annual production capacity by 59%
ness, and which are used in a wide range ensuring a stable supply of these resins is for epoxy resins used for semiconductor.

154 Chemical Weekly August 19, 2025

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