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?
Claudia Dr. Vogt, Chief of Staff R&D Data Science & AI, Bayer AG (Pharma division)
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
John Den Engelsman, Executive Director, Process Analytical Sciences, Novartis
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
Evelien Cools, Industry Lead Life Science BeLux, Delaware
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’
Timothy Walsh, Global Portfolio Manager Life Sciences, Siemens SI, Siemens AG
Siobhan Fleming, Solution Owner Digital Lab, Siemens DI, Siemens AG
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
Kathrin Hedegger, Product Manager Robotics Platforms, HAMILTON BONADUZ AG
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
Bill Russo, VP of Sales, ZONTAL
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
Michael Peter Langner, Research Department Manager, Pharmaceutical and Bioproduction Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation
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
Dave Drodge, Digital Transformation Lead, Roche
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
Ali Safari, Senior Data Scientist Innovations Synergies, Sartorius
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
Dr. Michael Kiening, Head of Practices, Adastra
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
Burkhard Schaefer, Managing Director, Splashlake
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
Matthias Depoortere, Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist, GSK
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
Dr. Ingo Uwe Muckenschnabel , Senior Manager Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis
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
Sandra Pack, Principal Process Capability Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim
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
Ines Leonhardt, Product Manager Life Science, Analytik Jena GmbH+Co. KG
Melanie Kelm, Division Manager Lab Automation, Analytik Jena GmbH & Co. KG
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.
Kai Gloth, Head of Product Development, Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
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
Dr. Munisha Mangal, R&D Leader, Haleon
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.
Michael Peter Langner, Research Department Manager, Pharmaceutical and Bioproduction Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation
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
Dr. Mariano Nicolas Cruz Bournazou., Group Leader, KIWI-biolab, Bioprocess Engineering, TU Berlin
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
Faisal Ansari, CEO, GBR
Ton Aerdts, Research Director, GBR