HSC is one of the first scientific software packages with versatile chemical, thermodynamic and mineral processing features. Timo Talonen created the first HSC module in 1974 to calculate equilibrium compositions in the Outokumpu Oyj sulfur plant gas line. Dr. Antti Roine started HSC digital database development at the Helsinki University of Technology in 1979. Since then, he has managed the HSC development. Development of HSC mineral processing modules was started by prof. Pertti Lamberg in 1990.
The HSC software development was started because there was not such software packages available in 1970s and 1980s. Originally, HSC was developed as an internal tool for Outokumpu Oyj to improve chemical process R&D efficiency. Later on, in 1987, delivery to other companies began.
The development of software and databases has been done in co-operation with several universities including the Helsinki University of Technology (Aalto), Åbo Akademi, Petrozavodsk State University, Luleå University of Technology, University of Kentucky, Montana Tech, the University of Missouri-Rolla, the University of Turku, the University of Jyväskylä, Tallinn Technical University, the Technical University of Lappeenranta, the University of Oulu and the University of Joensuu.
Outokumpu Oyj founded a new company Outotec Oyj in 2006, based on Outokumpu Oyj technology business activities and IPR. The ownership of HSC Chemistry was also transferred to Outotec Oyj.