December 2026
Agenda
Accelerating Transformation of Life Science, Pharma and Biotech R&D with Automation, AI/ML & Robotics Tools
DAY 1
08:00 - 08:50
REGISTRATION
08:55 – 09:00
CHAIRPERSON’S OPENING REMARKS
09:00 - 09:30
Bayer’s R&D transformation through digital and data science capabilities that boost productivity
- Opportunities and challenges of Pharma R&D
- Transformation potential through Digital and Data Science
- How is this done at Bayer?
- What are our key priorities?
09:30 - 10:00
“Beyond the Bench”: how advanced laboratory automation and data sciences are shaping analytical development strategies
- The session will give a general overview of the analytical development life cycle for biologics development including the challenges encountered in each phase
- The session will cover strategies that can be used to overcome the different challenges during each phase
- The session will touch on approaches for laboratory automation to enable both speed and throughput
- The session will expand on how data models are informing us for new method development
10:00 - 10:30
Next gen Patient Engagement Platforms
We’ll explore how next-generation engagement platforms can truly support health care professionals and patients—when they’re designed with the patient at heart and operational reality & compliance in mind.
- What are the pitfalls
- Hyperpersonalization versus compliance rigor
- How to build a successful and compliant application
10:35 - 11:25
COFFEE BREAK
11:30 - 12:00
Unlocking innovation through connected digital ecosystems – faster from molecule to market
An end-to-end digital ecosystem approach is essential to delivering the R&D lab of the future. We will explore the core technologies that make up this ecosystem.
- Leveraging smart lab infrastructure
- Supporting decision-making with AI
- Streamlining experiment workflows
- Maximizing efficiency and safety with ‘more hands’
12:00 - 12:30
Empowering Your Lab: Innovation, Sustainability and more Data for smarter decisions
- Hamilton’s Innovation Avenue – Inspired by your Needs and Challenges
- Sustainability Matters – Achieve your Goals with our Support
- Data – Collect more Data to make Better Decisions
- Lab Solutions – Benchtop Highlights
12:30 - 13:00
A modular approach to robotic lab automation: from simple workstations to the dark lab
- Evolution of robotics: from the factory to the lab
- How can robotics help with today’s R&D lab challenges?
- Collaborative, industrial, mobile, … a robot for every need!
- The robotic lab automation ecosystem
- Use cases: from simple workstations to the dark lab
PLANNED INVESTMENT AREAS
- Robotics Process Automation
- Data Sciences and Analytics
- Architectural Design and Lab Planning
- Asset Performance Management
- Laboratory Process Automation
- Laboratory Digital Monitoring Systems
- Transportation & Storage of Biological Materials
- Laboratory Sample & Inventory Management Solutions
- High-throughput screening/ High-content screening
- Laboratory equipment and Furniture
- Asset Finance and Leasing
- Sustainable Equipment, Materials and Decontamination Solutions
- Labware Cleaning and Sterilization
- Energy Efficiency Solutions
- Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality
- Laboratory/Hardware Automation
- Smart Lab Infrastructure
- Mobile Robots
- Cloud Computing
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
- Informatics
- Operational Excellence/Continuous Improvement
- Quality Assurance / Quality Control
- Laboratory Operations & Strategy
- Regulation, Compliance & Validation
- Cybersecurity
- Digital Lab Consulting
- Consulting for AI & ML adoption for Lab Automation
- Sample Analysis and Processing Solutions
- Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)
- Clean Room Solutions
- Environmental Monitoring Solutions
- Design, Build, Quality & Commissioning of Critical Laboratory Facilities
13:05 - 13:55
LUNCH
14:00 - 14:30
CGT Production - From Today’s Challenges to Tomorrow’s Technological Breakthroughs
- Current state of CGT production: limitations in scalability, flexibility, and cost
- People and workforce considerations: training, adaptation to automation, and multidisciplinary collaboration with a glimps at regulatory hurdles
- Vision for the future: scalable, flexible, and cost-optimized CGT manufacturing through technology-driven solutions
14:30 – 15:00
AI, You, and the Future of Work
- Technology: AI on Tasks
- Key Demographics Influence on Work
- Human in the loop (HITL)
- Conclusions: What can and should we do? “Being Human not just the human in the loop” © 2025 University of Strasbourg
15:00 – 15:30
Digital Integration: Key Roles in AI/ML for Future Lab Therapy Solutions
- Expectations meets reality: Importance of AI/ML integration into lab devices data for simplifying progress
- From reality to vision: Integration of data management solutions to enable AI-driven modelling, enhancing advanced therapy solutions
- Democratizing Complex Modeling: Simplifying and standardizing modeling approaches and workflows to make advanced techniques accessible to lab users
- AI-Driven Knowledge Retrieval System for smart Labs: Streamlining lab workflows by providing structured access to scientific knowledge, enhancing research efficiency
15:35 - 16:25
COFFEE BREAK
16:30 - 17:00
From Trusted Data to Scalable-Compliant AI in Pharma
- Why many Pharma AI initiatives fail to deliver measurable business impact and how to change that: capture business impact, connect AI to workflows, make sure compliance readiness
- GenAI with purpose: how to tie conversational AI to value, integrated into workflows rather than used as a standalone project
- Practical use cases of scalability readiness: build compliance-ready data foundations, accelerate evidence gathering with AI
- Inspection-ready by design: proven strategies to reduce risk, accelerate insights, and ensure QA and regulatory review readiness
- Lessons from other regulated industries: process optimization and cost control from automotive
17:00 - 17:30
Building universal data accessibility into your AI strategy – Integration, standardization and governance.
- How to ensure trust in data through scalable, whole-lab connectivity of instruments and software
- Leveraging all scientific data sources from a single location
- Securing vendor agnostic and future-proofed data through machine- and human- readable data standards
- Applying multi-modal data (including files, time-series, chemical structures, and more) and metadata to create a rich, fully configurable data catalog
- Generating value using LLMs without the need to train custom models
PLANNED INVESTMENT AREAS
- Robotics Process Automation
- Data Sciences and Analytics
- Architectural Design and Lab Planning
- Asset Performance Management
- Laboratory Process Automation
- Laboratory Digital Monitoring Systems
- Transportation & Storage of Biological Materials
- Laboratory Sample & Inventory Management Solutions
- High-throughput screening/ High-content screening
- Laboratory equipment and Furniture
- Asset Finance and Leasing
- Sustainable Equipment, Materials and Decontamination Solutions
- Labware Cleaning and Sterilization
- Energy Efficiency Solutions
- Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality
- Laboratory/Hardware Automation
- Smart Lab Infrastructure
- Mobile Robots
- Cloud Computing
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
- Informatics
- Operational Excellence/Continuous Improvement
- Quality Assurance / Quality Control
- Laboratory Operations & Strategy
- Regulation, Compliance & Validation
- Cybersecurity
- Digital Lab Consulting
- Consulting for AI & ML adoption for Lab Automation
- Sample Analysis and Processing Solutions
- Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)
- Clean Room Solutions
- Environmental Monitoring Solutions
- Design, Build, Quality & Commissioning of Critical Laboratory Facilities
17:30 - 18:00
Smarter Drug-making: AI/ML Models in Drug Process Development and Manufacturing
- Although most AI/ML applications in pharma focus on drug discovery, the technology is increasingly being applied in the later stages of pharmaceutical R&D, including Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC)
- This talk will showcase use cases where AI enabled faster, more robust, data-driven approaches in drug and vaccine technical development
- Presented use cases will include computer vision models for extracting complex product data from CryoEM images, as well as data management and models for small molecules with a focus on solubility prediction and salt formation
- Applying AI/ML to CMC development is often hindered by scarce training data, but strategies like synthetic data generation, active learning, external data integration, and hybrid modeling techniques can help overcome this limitation
18:00 - 19:00
DRINKS RECEPTION
DAY 2
08:55 – 09:00
CHAIRPERSON’S OPENING REMARKS
09:00 – 09:30
Lab Automation, Future Trends, Analytical Chemistry in Pharma Research
- Automated Sample Transport: Enables seamless movement between labs and analytical instruments across buildings or campuses
- Workflow Optimization: Automatically distributes workloads across available instruments, enhancing efficiency
- Remote Access and Collaboration: Allows researchers to submit samples remotely and access specialized analytical methods
- Accelerated Drug Discovery: Enhances efficiency and accelerates decision-making in pharmaceutical research and development
09:30 – 10:00
Agentic AI in Clinical Process Knowledge Management
- Today’s challenges with our process knowledge landscape
- The vision and future of AI-driven process Knowledge Management
- Centralized models and AI Agents
- Project learnings
10:00 - 10:30
Automation in NGS Library Preparation: Efficiency, Scalability, and Compliance for the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Challenges and opportunities in pharmaceutical NGS applications
- Automated sample preparation with the CyBio FeliX
- 21 CFR Part 11-compliant qPCR with the qTOWER iris
- Strategic benefits for pharma: efficiency and scalability
10:35 - 11:25
COFFEE BREAK
11:30 – 12:00
Enabling Biopharma Innovation Through Collaborative BioAnalytics
- Advancing Biopharma innovation requires breaking down silos between research, manufacturing, and data science.
- Sartorius is fostering this shift through deep collaboration with academia and industry, uniting advanced BioAnalytics, automation, and AI-driven insight.
- By enabling shared data foundations and interoperable technologies, Sartorius supports more predictive, efficient, and sustainable development processes — turning scientific discovery and process understanding into a continuous cycle of innovation and learning.
12:00 – 12:30
Artificial Intelligence Transforming the Future of Pharma
- Accelerated Drug Discovery: AI-driven modelling and virtual screening to identify promising molecules faster
- Smarter Clinical Trials: AI-enabled patient recruitment, adaptive trial design, and real-time monitoring for efficiency and diversity
- Personalised Medicine: Data-driven insights to tailor treatments to individual genetic, lifestyle, and biomarker profiles
- Predictive Manufacturing & Supply Chains: AI forecasting to reduce shortages, optimise production, and ensure quality control
- Regulatory Intelligence: Automating compliance checks, safety monitoring, and regulatory submissions
- Next-Generation Patient Engagement: AI-powered digital health tools to improve adherence, outcomes, and real-world evidence generation
PLANNED INVESTMENT AREAS
- Robotics Process Automation
- Data Sciences and Analytics
- Architectural Design and Lab Planning
- Asset Performance Management
- Laboratory Process Automation
- Laboratory Digital Monitoring Systems
- Transportation & Storage of Biological Materials
- Laboratory Sample & Inventory Management Solutions
- High-throughput screening/ High-content screening
- Laboratory equipment and Furniture
- Asset Finance and Leasing
- Sustainable Equipment, Materials and Decontamination Solutions
- Labware Cleaning and Sterilization
- Energy Efficiency Solutions
- Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality
- Laboratory/Hardware Automation
- Smart Lab Infrastructure
- Mobile Robots
- Cloud Computing
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
- Informatics
- Operational Excellence/Continuous Improvement
- Quality Assurance / Quality Control
- Laboratory Operations & Strategy
- Regulation, Compliance & Validation
- Cybersecurity
- Digital Lab Consulting
- Consulting for AI & ML adoption for Lab Automation
- Sample Analysis and Processing Solutions
- Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)
- Clean Room Solutions
- Environmental Monitoring Solutions
- Design, Build, Quality & Commissioning of Critical Laboratory Facilities
12:30 – 13:00
Build or Buy- When should you insource or outsource lab services and products
- Configurable vs. Customized: choosing flexibility over fragmentation.
- Build Smart: in-house solutions offer control — but create legacy and maintenance debt.
- Buy Strategically: off-the-shelf platforms accelerate scale, if they fit your process DNA.
- Hidden Costs: integration, updates, and talent retention often outweigh CAPEX savings.
- Hybrid Future: combine automation modules and digital ecosystems for adaptive capacity.
- Lesson Learned: innovation thrives where you own the knowledge, not necessarily the infrastructure.
13:05 - 13:55
LUNCH
14:00 – 14:30
ON THE PATH TO FAIR AUTONOMOUS HIGH THROUGHPUT BIOPROCESS DEVELOPMENT
- High Throughput Bioprocess Development
- FAIR data
- Advanced Control of Parallel Mini-Bioreactors
- Workflow Management Systems
14:30 - 15:00
Group Discussion: Navigating the Future of Lab Automation: AI, Empowerment, and Lessons Learn
- Incorporating automation into laboratory work brings significant advantages
- However there are obstacles that can delay successful implementation
- AI and Lab Automation: Disrupting Jobs or Empowering Scientists?
- Lessons Learned: Mistakes from Lab Automation Projects to Avoid