Events

Automation for a sustainable future 2026: R&D to real-world adoption

Name: Automation for a Sustainable Future 2026: R&D to Real-World Adoption
Start: 2026-11-25T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-11-26T00:00:00.000Z
Location: CPI - The Coxon Building

Explore how automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation are transforming research, development and manufacturing in this 2-day event.

Registration now closed

CPI in partnership with SiLA, are bringing together leaders from industry, academia and technology to explore how automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation are transforming research, development and manufacturing.

AI and intelligent automation is rapidly reshaping the innovation landscape, providing organisations with unprecedented opportunities to accelerate the discovery of new products and optimise existing processes to address global sustainability and manufacturing challenges. This two-day conference will explore how these technologies have moved beyond research environments into real-world industrial adoption.

The event will bring together researchers, formulators, engineers, technology developers and innovation leaders to share practical insights, emerging technologies and collaborative opportunities.

Conference themes

AI and intelligent automation for innovation

Explore how AI, machine learning, robotics and autonomous experimentation are changing the way organisations develop products, optimise processes and make decisions across R&D and manufacturing.

From autonomous laboratories to industrial adoption

Explore barriers to automation adoption and pathways to overcome, including in complex highly regulated environments.

Discover how automated experimentation, digital twins, modelling and simulation are enabling organisations to move from proof of concept to scalable, commercial deployment.

Learn about the exciting ORBIT initiative to drive robotics adoption in the life sciences sector.

Driving sustainability through digital technologies

Explore how AI and automation are becoming critical to accelerating the transition to more sustainable materials, products and manufacturing processes. With the pace of change needed, digital technologies can help industry innovate faster, reduce waste and resource use, and accelerate sustainable solutions across chemicals, consumer products, energy, pharmaceuticals and advanced materials.

The future of automation

Hear from experts at the forefront of digital innovation as they discuss the next generation of autonomous systems, emerging technologies, future challenges and the skills needed to unlock their full potential.

What to expect

Learn from industry-leading keynote speakers, interactive panel discussions and real-world case studies.

Explore how AI and automation are accelerating innovation from research through to commercial deployment.
Discover CPI’s world-leading formulation and advanced materials capabilities, accelerated by state-of-the-art automation and digital technologies.
Learn from industry-leading keynote speakers and real-world case studies.
Connect with researchers, technology experts and industry through dedicated networking opportunities.
Take part in a tour of CPI's state-of-the-art facilities.

Confirmed speakers

Dr Jake Grace	Clariant
Dr Airit Agasty	Croda
Dr Rhys Macown	Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
Dr Sean Ruane	CPI
Dr Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti	Aston University
Dr Patrick Courtney	Member of the board of directors SiLA (standardisation in laboratory automation) consortium, Switzerland
Dr Martin Lea	Polaron
Paul Orange	Labman
Dr Jingyu Feng	Imperial
Prof. Mazair Nezhad	Director, Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC), University of Salford
Dr Mahesh Dissanayake	MTC