Big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and other emerging technologies are transforming the pharmaceutical industry right before our eyes – and the clock is ticking for companies that haven鈥檛 yet adapted. Integrating these tools into R&D, manufacturing, packaging and supply鈥慶hain operations may seem daunting, but top players like Merck, ESTEVE, Octapharma, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, GSK and others are already reaping the rewards of these new technologies.
is going to bring 290+ industry leaders to V枚sendorf, Austria on 24-25 November for two days of in鈥慸epth case studies, practical workshops and high鈥慽mpact networking designed to accelerate pharma鈥檚 digital journey.
Leveraging AI, ML & Big Data for Breakthroughs
Digital technologies are revolutionising every phase of the pharmaceutical value chain by turning mountains of siloed information into actionable insights. In R&D, advanced analytics and machine鈥憀earning algorithms can sift through genomic, clinical and real鈥憌orld data to pinpoint novel drug targets and predict patient response far faster than traditional methods. In manufacturing and packaging, AI鈥慸riven process control and predictive maintenance reduce downtime, optimise yields and ensure consistent product quality. And across the supply chain, real鈥憈ime analytics enhance demand forecasting, traceability and regulatory compliance, transforming what was once a linear, error鈥憄rone pipeline into an agile, end鈥憈o鈥慹nd digital ecosystem. For any pharma company aiming to stay competitive, harnessing these technologies is no longer optional, it鈥檚 the key to delivering safer, more effective therapies at the speed patients expect.
To share their hard鈥憌on insights and hands鈥憃n experience in making digital pharma a reality, the professionals from Merck, ESTEVE, Octapharma, GSK (AUTOMA+ 2025 Partners), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma (AUTOMA+ 2025 Technology Partner) and other leading companies are converging at AUTOMA+ 2025. Their presentations promise to deliver practical takeaways that delegates can immediately apply to their own digital transformation initiatives. The interactive sessions are going to spark meaningful dialogue and collaboration, driving real鈥憌orld solutions that propel the pharmaceutical industry forward.
How Octapharma is Turning Sensor Data into Yield Gains
Octapharma is going to bring a truly hands-on case study to AUTOMA+ 2025, as Group Director of Manufacturing Intelligence Luuk Seelen and Lead of Data & AI Christophe Chabbert talk about optimising production outcomes through Machine Learning on sensor data. Drawing on Octapharma鈥檚 evolution into a fully data鈥慸riven organisation, the speakers are going to demonstrate how running thousands of real鈥憈ime sensor parameters through custom AI models has already boosted yields across multiple product lines, and how these same methods will soon be rolled out at every manufacturing site worldwide.
Participants are going to learn how Octapharma鈥檚 team combines the raw power of advanced analytics with deep human expertise, letting machine鈥慸etected patterns guide expert curiosity to fine鈥憈une processes that were once governed by intuition alone. From predicting batch outcomes to pinpointing hidden drivers of variability, their approach underscores four pillars of success:
- data鈥慸riven decisions – leveraging comprehensive production data to steer continuous efficiency gains;
- AI + human expertise – fusing algorithmic insights with seasoned operator know鈥慼ow for optimal process control;
- advanced analytics – anticipating quality deviations before they occur and reinforcing product consistency;
- cultural shift – cultivating a learning鈥慺irst mindset that empowers every team member to embrace digital innovation.
Octapharma鈥檚 digital transformation not only sharpens its competitive edge, but ultimately delivers safer, more reliable medicines to patients in need.
Boehringer鈥疘ngelheim鈥檚 Lean & Green Digital Twins
Joachim B盲r, Director of DevOps Cell Culture at Boehringer鈥疘ngelheim Pharma, is going to host a workshop 鈥淧lant鈥�&鈥疌ost鈥�&鈥疭ustainability Digital Twins鈥� during the AUTOMA+ Congress. Drawing on the strengths of Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence鈩� – one of the world鈥檚 premier biopharmaceutical contract manufacturers – this session will guide participants through the creation and application of dynamic digital models that mirror both upstream (API generation via mammalian cell culture or microbial fermentation) and downstream (API purification and formulation) operations under cGMP conditions.
Delegates are going to learn how to leverage these end鈥憈o鈥慹nd digital twins to simulate and optimise facility utilisation, balancing plant occupancy with production throughput; identify bottlenecks and perform gap assessments, pinpointing where process or facility adaptations can unlock efficiency gains and align cost management with sustainability goals, using real鈥憈ime data to forecast resource consumption and minimise environmental impact.
By integrating process parameters across the entire lifecycle – from bioreactor to aseptic fill – Boehringer鈥疘ngelheim BioXcellence鈩� helps customers streamline development, scale seamlessly and meet evolving market demands without compromising on quality or green credentials. This workshop aims to show how digital twins can transform complex biomanufacturing into a lean, agile and sustainable operation.
Building Confidence in AI with Merck鈥檚 M鈥慣rust鈩�
Thomas Endress, Executive Director and Head of M鈥慣rust鈩� at Merck, is going to challenge the AUTOMA+ 2025 participants to rethink how we place our confidence in AI鈥慳ugmented processes and present Merck鈥檚 M鈥慣rust鈩� – 鈥渢he missing piece to unlock new digital businesses and provide unmet trust鈥�.
Relying on over 350 years of scientific ingenuity and a deep commitment to sustainability and responsibility, Merck has developed M鈥慣rust鈩�, a first鈥憈o鈥憁arket, cyber鈥憄hysical trust platform unveiled at CES 2025 and now available in beta to B2B users worldwide.
During the Congress, Thomas Endress is going to show how M鈥慣rust鈩� bridges the gap between machines and human standards by crypto鈥慳nchoring products, digital twin integration, smart contracts and automation.
Backed by Merck鈥檚 legacy in product security and designed to evolve with emerging regulations – such as the EU Digital Product Passport – M鈥慣rust鈩� offers a Platform鈥慳s鈥慳鈥慡ervice suite of adaptable software, multi鈥憄atented crypto anchors and companion reader hardware. The AUTOMA+ 2025 participants are going to be equipped to deploy cyber鈥憄hysical trust at scale, turning AI鈥慸riven processes from 鈥渂lack boxes鈥� into transparent, accountable engines of innovation.
GSK鈥檚 Agile Supply Chain: AI and Digitalisation in Practice
C茅dric鈥疌olon, Global Supply Chain Strategy Programme Management Global Process Owner at GSK, is going to share how the company鈥檚 bold digital investments are unlocking new sources of value and resilience across its network. In two presentations: 鈥淯nlocking Future Business Value with AI: Driving Adaptation and Market Agility鈥� and 鈥淲hy Digitalisation & AI Are Enablers to Unlock Supply Chain Value Realisation鈥� he鈥檚 going to reveal GSK鈥檚 strategy for building a smarter, more responsive supply chain.
The example of the $120鈥痬illion GSK鈥檚 Upper Merion hub – transformed in 2019 into a state鈥憃f鈥憈he鈥慳rt, digitally enabled manufacturing centre – demonstrates how the company turns complex production plans into actionable, prioritised workflows with real鈥憈ime digital scheduling, uses AI鈥憄owered digital twins to detect early fault signatures and replace manual batch records with electronic workflows that capture every critical parameter in real time.
GSK鈥檚 digital roadmap not only enhances operational efficiency and regulatory compliance, but also fosters a culture of continuous learning – where AI insights and human expertise converge to deliver sustainable business value and, ultimately, better outcomes for patients.
Blueprint for a Smarter, Faster, More Resilient Pharma Future
A well鈥慸efined digital strategy – backed by a culture of innovation and a commitment to continuous improvement – is the linchpin for unlocking the full promise of AI, ML and Big Data. Leading pharma players like Octapharma, Boehringer鈥疘ngelheim, Merck, GSK and others are already showing how diverse, collaborative approaches can drive efficiency gains, elevate product quality and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
AUTOMA+ 2025 is going to be the perfect place to build on these successes: two days of case studies, workshops and networking designed to translate visionary concepts into tangible solutions.
and take the next step towards a smarter future.
