Some considerations on the (un)predictability of science

SSCI-VIDE+ATARI+FCA; International audience; Predictability in science advances and their transfer to industrial application has been a constant concern for decision makers whether they are scientific researchers, industrialists or politicians. Research history has shown however that many forecasted successes never became actual industrial applications and many unforeseen developments became huge successes for industry and society.In the field of catalysis some hot topics are now being tackled and seem promising for future up scaling such as predictive catalysis (theory), nanostructured materials, single-site catalysis, single-atom catalysis, gold catalysis, advanced operando visualization of catalysts, VOC abatement, carbon dioxide capture, hydrogen production, biofuels, biomimetics,…Some of the above mentioned subjects will be critically analyzed.