Next‑Gen Pharma: AI, ML & Digital Twins Converge at AUTOMA+ 2025

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’t yet adapted. Integrating these tools into R&D, manufacturing, packaging and supply‑chain 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 Vösendorf, Austria on 24-25 November for two days of in‑depth case studies, practical workshops and high‑impact networking designed to accelerate pharma’s 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‑learning algorithms can sift through genomic, clinical and real‑world data to pinpoint novel drug targets and predict patient response far faster than traditional methods. In manufacturing and packaging, AI‑driven process control and predictive maintenance reduce downtime, optimise yields and ensure consistent product quality. And across the supply chain, real‑time analytics enhance demand forecasting, traceability and regulatory compliance, transforming what was once a linear, error‑prone pipeline into an agile, end‑to‑end digital ecosystem. For any pharma company aiming to stay competitive, harnessing these technologies is no longer optional, it’s the key to delivering safer, more effective therapies at the speed patients expect.

To share their hard‑won insights and hands‑on 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‑world 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’s evolution into a fully data‑driven organisation, the speakers are going to demonstrate how running thousands of real‑time 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’s team combines the raw power of advanced analytics with deep human expertise, letting machine‑detected patterns guide expert curiosity to fine‑tune 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‑driven decisions – leveraging comprehensive production data to steer continuous efficiency gains;
• AI + human expertise – fusing algorithmic insights with seasoned operator know‑how for optimal process control;
• advanced analytics – anticipating quality deviations before they occur and reinforcing product consistency;
• cultural shift – cultivating a learning‑first mindset that empowers every team member to embrace digital innovation.

Octapharma’s digital transformation not only sharpens its competitive edge, but ultimately delivers safer, more reliable medicines to patients in need.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Lean & Green Digital Twins

Joachim Bär, Director of DevOps Cell Culture at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, is going to host a workshop “Plant & Cost & Sustainability Digital Twinsâ€� during the AUTOMA+ Congress. Drawing on the strengths of Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellenceâ„¢ – one of the world’s 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‑to‑end 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‑time data to forecast resource consumption and minimise environmental impact.

By integrating process parameters across the entire lifecycle – from bioreactor to aseptic fill – Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellenceâ„¢ 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’s M‑Trust™

Thomas Endress, Executive Director and Head of M‑Trustâ„¢ at Merck, is going to challenge the AUTOMA+ 2025 participants to rethink how we place our confidence in AI‑augmented processes and present Merck’s M‑Trustâ„¢ – “the missing piece to unlock new digital businesses and provide unmet trustâ€�.

Relying on over 350 years of scientific ingenuity and a deep commitment to sustainability and responsibility, Merck has developed M‑Trust™, a first‑to‑market, cyber‑physical 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‑Trust™ bridges the gap between machines and human standards by crypto‑anchoring products, digital twin integration, smart contracts and automation.

Backed by Merck’s legacy in product security and designed to evolve with emerging regulations – such as the EU Digital Product Passport – M‑Trustâ„¢ offers a Platform‑as‑a‑Service suite of adaptable software, multi‑patented crypto anchors and companion reader hardware. The AUTOMA+ 2025 participants are going to be equipped to deploy cyber‑physical trust at scale, turning AI‑driven processes from “black boxesâ€� into transparent, accountable engines of innovation.

GSK’s Agile Supply Chain: AI and Digitalisation in Practice

Cédric Colon, Global Supply Chain Strategy Programme Management Global Process Owner at GSK, is going to share how the company’s bold digital investments are unlocking new sources of value and resilience across its network. In two presentations: “Unlocking Future Business Value with AI: Driving Adaptation and Market Agility� and “Why Digitalisation & AI Are Enablers to Unlock Supply Chain Value Realisation� he’s going to reveal GSK’s strategy for building a smarter, more responsive supply chain.

The example of the $120 million GSK’s Upper Merion hub – transformed in 2019 into a state‑of‑the‑art, digitally enabled manufacturing centre – demonstrates how the company turns complex production plans into actionable, prioritised workflows with real‑time digital scheduling, uses AI‑powered digital twins to detect early fault signatures and replace manual batch records with electronic workflows that capture every critical parameter in real time.

GSK’s 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‑defined 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 Ingelheim, 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.

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