The Asian Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APCChE) was founded in 1975 through the efforts of Professor T.Mizushina of Kyoto University, Japan. It was formed to provide a focus for various non-profit societies, associations and institutions working in the field of Chemical Engineering in the Asian Pacific region. APCChE comprises of member Societies in 15 countries and regions, People's Republic of China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Iran, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, China.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers, the Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Germany and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK) are corresponding members.
The establishment of APCChE was the third world chemical engineering region to be established following the Inter-American and European Confederations. Prior to the founding of APCChE, the ‘World’ of chemical engineering was mainly through two confederations covering the Americas and Europe. Asia, Africa and much of Eastern Europe was not included. International chemical engineering conferences were mainly hosted in Europe and the Americas. Africa, the Middle East and Russia are still not covered and this is under active consideration by the World Chemical Engineering Council (WCEC). The WCEC was formed in Melbourne at the 6th World Congress of Chemical Engineering in 2001 and it includes many worldwide institutions and societies of chemical engineering as well as the Confederations.
Philosophy
The first APCChE Steering Committee meeting was held in Bangkok in 1975 at which a draft of the APCChE Constitution (Statutes) was accepted.
The objectives of APCChE are:
To establish and maintain relations between organisations working in the field of Chemical Engineering, and to promote human welfare through progress of Chemical Engineering.
To organise international congresses of Chemical Engineering in cooperation with other confederations.
To promote the exchange of information and sharing of experience connected with Chemical Engineering.
To promote the interchange of chemical engineers in the countries belonging to the Confederation.
To promote the development and improvement of chemical engineering education in member countries.