The Path to a Modern Research Laboratory – tales from the trenches

Fabio Rancati Lead Optimization Unit Head , Chiesi Farmaceutici

The digital world has immense potential to transform the value we get from experiments. Digitalization efforts often focus on how we can gather and structure experiment data and metadata so that companies can make best use of the information that they’re continually producing. However, this invariably leads to a misalignment: the company needs highly structured and standardized data with as much contextual metadata as possible, while -due to time pressures- the scientist wants to just gather the data and context required to draw immediate conclusions and move on. This misalignment means that (meta)data will rarely be recorded in sufficient detail to get anything but the most immediate value.

• R&D must define its strategic ambitions and behaviours. What are we really trying to achieve and how should we behave to achieve them? 
• Leadership needs to own the transformation process.  They must have a clear vision of what the transformation is supposed to do and make sure the business achieves it 
• It is also R&D that provides the drive and vision for the transformation with the primary purpose of their sponsorship is to create organizational commitment and support, helping ensure transformation does do not fail 
• Achieving a successful cultural transition requires R&D to drive the change management. Real Estate and Workplace will provide the framework, design & change expertise, and communications tools to support R&D’s transformation journey 

• Lab design framework then and now
• Automation in the lab vs “The manual lab”
• Occupancy and equipment utilisation for the ideal workflow and lab design.