Agenda Day 2
8:00 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast & Networking
8:30 am - 8:40 am
Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Nicki Vo -
President,
NIVO Innovations
8:40 am - 9:25 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: Unlocking the Next Phase of Lab Automation: From Efficiency Gains to AI-Enabled Discovery
Kalpesh Gupta -
Director of Research Automation,
Moderna
Geoff Parker - Co-Founder, Scimcon
Cathy Kuang - Head of Data, Digital, and Technology for Research and Labs, Takeda
Ruo Steensma - Sr. Director, Johnson & Johnson
Sumeet Bindra Narang - Global R&D Director for Health and Wellbeing, Unilever
Automation is no longer just about efficiency – it’s about enabling new ways of working, accelerating discovery, and demonstrating value to both scientists and the business. This panel will bring together leaders who are piloting, scaling, and embedding automation into their labs to explore what’s working, what’s next, and how to overcome the cultural and technical barriers that remain.
Discussion points:
• Streamlining repetitive lab tasks through robotic and instrument automation to reduce errors and free up scientist time
• Integrating automation platforms with lab data systems (LIMS/ELN) for seamless workflow orchestration
• Overcoming implementation challenges: scaling automation across multiple sites and aligning with regulatory requirements
• Measuring ROI: how labs quantify the efficiency, throughput, and quality gains from automation
• Preparing automation for future AI augmentation: building workflows and data pipelines that can feed predictive models
Sponsored by: Scimcon
9:25 am - 9:55 am
CASE STUDY: From Data-Rich Experimentation to Self-Driving Labs: Advancing Process Chemistry at Pfizer
Nick Desrosiers -
Senior Director,
Pfizer
10:00 am - 10:30 am 1:1 Business Meetings
10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee & Networking Break
10:35 am - 11:05 am 1:1 Business Meetings
10:35 am - 11:05 am THINK TANK: Turning Lab Data into Action: Practical Strategies for Insight-Driven Innovation
Sushil Vasan G - Scientific Solution Manager, Zifo
11:10 am - 11:40 am 1:1 Business Meetings
11:10 am - 11:40 am Coffee & Networking
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
CASE STUDY: From Human to Robots - Lab based Data Generation & Capture
Scott Busby -
Executive Director,
Novartis
Non-standardised data generation and capture workflows often hinder efforts to apply machine learning in small molecule optimization. In this case study, Scott Busby shares how Novartis is systematically addressing these challenges to enable more consistent, machine-readable lab data.
Attendees will gain insights into:
• How Novartis is improving data standardisation to unlock AI and machine learning potential in drug discovery.
• Key organisational and technical hurdles in transforming lab-based data generation.
• Lessons learned from piloting an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) for research lab operations.
• Practical steps to advance towards automation and smarter data capture in scientific environments.
12:20 pm - 12:50 pm 1:1 Business Meetings & Networking
12:20 pm - 12:50 pm Coffee & Networking Break
12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
Networking Lunch
1:40 pm - 2:10 pm 1:1 Business Meetings
1:40 pm - 2:10 pm THINK TANK: Marketplace of Connectivity — Solving the Instrument Integration Puzzle
Colin Thurston - Business Development and Partnerships, Scimcon
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
PRESENTATION: Connecting Data, Systems, and Instruments
Robert Boland -
Global Head Digital Innovation & Lab Technology,
Haleon
Whilst discussing new tools on the market is important, failing to connect with the rest of your lab will result in a lack of ROI. This session explores how integrating data, instruments, and AI strategies unlocks the full potential of your lab investments. Learn practical approaches to creating a fully connected lab that drives insights, efficiency, and measurable ROI.
• How to integrate diverse lab instruments and systems for seamless data flow.
• Leveraging connected data and AI to generate actionable insights from existing workflows.
• Practical strategies for maximizing ROI on lab digitalization initiatives.
