Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation, regulatory pressure, sustainability and the need to attract talent are redefining the way academic, industrial, research and quality-control laboratories work. These issues were discussed at the round table held on 2 June at Expoquimia, an event organised by the magazine Técnicas de Laboratorio and set up as an open conversation between different perspectives on the sector.
The debate, hosted and moderated by Alex Vallejo, Magazine Manager at the publication, was joined by:
- Jordi Oliver-Rodés, President of the Asociación Española de Laboratorios Independientes (AELI, the Spanish Association of Independent Laboratories)
- Irene García Cano, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Barcelona
- Alexandr Shafir, coordinator of the BISi-Bonds research group at the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC)
- Sandra Pifarré, representative of the Federación Empresarial Catalana del Sector Químico (FEDEQUIM, the Catalan Chemical Sector Business Federation) and Laboratory Product Manager at ITW Reagents
- Xavier Ruiz, Global Managing Director of Conformity Assessment at APPLUS+ Laboratories.
The conversation started from an idea that turned out to be shared by all the participants: the laboratory of the future will not simply be a laboratory with more technology. It will be a space where data, science, human judgement and the capacity for collaboration will need to come together in a much more natural and efficient way than before.
Key ideas
- AI does not remove the need for judgement: it makes it more important
- The laboratory will need to move from static data to predictive knowledge
- There will not be a single laboratory model, but models adapted to each need
- The relationship between university and industry remains an outstanding strategic issue
- Europe can turn its regulatory rigour into a competitive advantage if it cuts red tape and speeds up technology transfer
- Technology can be bought; knowledge, talent and a culture of science are built up over years.
To access the full feature, see here in issue 513 of Técnicas de Laboratorio