AI-Powered Bioreactor Platform Revolutionizes Manufacturing

Labman is engaged in a significant collaboration between Canada and the UK aimed at transforming biopharmaceutical manufacturing by utilizing state-of-the-art automation, AI, and real-time process control.

The AI-optimized BALANCE (Bioreactor Automation for Learning and Adaptive Networked Control of Experiments) platform represents a collective effort from key players such as CPI (UK), Basetwo (Canada), Nicoya (Canada), and Labman Automation (UK). This initiative is backed by a $2 million grant from Innovate UK and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

Spanning a period of 20 months, this collaboration focuses on developing a demonstrator platform that merges smart bioreactor technologies with real-time sensing, AI-driven optimization, and advanced modular automation. Labman will be responsible for designing and constructing a fully automated modular sampling system that facilitates molecular analysis of cell cultures with reduced manual intervention. This system will work in conjunction with Nicoya’s Alto SPR biosensor, providing immediate feedback on yield and quality, thus allowing for adaptive control of the process in real-time.

The foundation of the BALANCE system rests on Basetwo’s digital twin technology, which employs a machine learning framework to analyze real-time data from biosensors and bioreactors. This approach enables intelligent decision-making regarding process conditions, resulting in a closed-loop control system that continuously optimizes processes and minimizes the need for expensive lab-based testing.

This integration signifies a pivotal advancement for biologics and drug manufacturing, aligning with Industry 4.0 methodologies in bioprocessing. By leveraging advanced sensing, AI, and automation technologies, the goal is to expedite process development, enhance consistency, and establish smarter, more efficient workflows in biomanufacturing.

According to Tom Smith, Head of Bioprocess Automation at Labman, the project is expected to streamline upstream bioprocessing while enabling dynamic control that enhances yield, scalability, and speed to market for biologic therapeutics. CPI will lead the system validation to ensure that the platform is not only technically sound but also scalable and commercially viable.

This collaboration stands as a landmark achievement in the ongoing digitization of biologics manufacturing. For Labman, it presents an exciting chance to showcase how adaptive and intelligent automation can revolutionize complex scientific processes, affirming the company’s role at the forefront of this transformation.