AI Bioreactor Platform | Labman International Project
- Revolutionizing Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: A Canada-UK Collaboration
- Wilton, UK - In a landmark partnership, labman Automation, a UK-based leader in laboratory automation, is spearheading a groundbreaking collaboration with Canadian counterparts too transform biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
- The project, named BALANCE (Bioreactor Automation for Learning and Adaptive Networked Control of Experiments), unites the expertise of CPI (UK), Basetwo (Canada), Nicoya (Canada), and Labman Automation (UK).
Revolutionizing Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: A Canada-UK Collaboration
Wilton, UK – In a landmark partnership, labman Automation, a UK-based leader in laboratory automation, is spearheading a groundbreaking collaboration with Canadian counterparts too transform biopharmaceutical manufacturing. This initiative leverages cutting-edge automation,artificial intelligence (AI),and real-time process control to accelerate the advancement and production of life-saving biologic therapeutics.
The project, named BALANCE (Bioreactor Automation for Learning and Adaptive Networked Control of Experiments), unites the expertise of CPI (UK), Basetwo (Canada), Nicoya (Canada), and Labman Automation (UK). It is fueled by a $2 million grant from Innovate UK and the National research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP), underscoring the significance of this international endeavor.
At the heart of this 20-month collaboration lies the creation of a demonstrator platform that seamlessly integrates smart bioreactor technologies, real-time sensing, AI-driven optimization, and advanced modular automation. Labman will design and build a fully automated modular sampling system, enabling molecular analysis of cell cultures with minimal manual intervention.This system will work in tandem with Nicoya’s Alto SPR biosensor to deliver instant feedback on yield and quality, providing adaptive control over the process in real-time.
Basetwo’s digital twin technology underpins the BALANCE system. This machine learning platform interprets real-time data from biosensors and bioreactors to make smart decisions about process conditions. This closed-loop control system enables continuous optimization, predicting outcomes and reducing the need for costly lab-based testing.
“This is the next step for biologics and drug manufacturing, integrating Industry 4.0 approaches for bioprocessing,” says Tom Smith, Head of bioprocess automation at Labman. “By combining advanced sensing, AI, and automation, we aim to accelerate process development, improve consistency, and create smarter, more efficient biomanufacturing workflows.”
By streamlining upstream bioprocessing and enabling dynamic control, the BALANCE project aims to improve yield, scalability, and speed to market for biologic therapeutics. CPI will lead system validation, ensuring the platform is not only technically robust but also scalable for widespread adoption within the biopharmaceutical industry.
This collaboration represents a meaningful leap forward in biomanufacturing, promising to deliver more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable production of life-saving medicines.