Events

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

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

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.


Agenda

Day 1

10:00-11:00

Arrival, registration and refreshments

10:40 - 10:50

Welcome, introduction and housekeeping

10:50 - 11:00

Keynote address

CPI speaker to be confirmed

11:00 - 11:20

Addressing opportunities and challenges in automation for cell and gene therapies

Dr Rhys Macown | Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult

11:20 - 11:40

Connecting Standards for the Lab of the Future

Dr Sean Ruane | CPI

11:40 - 12:00

euRobotics and standardisation in lab automation – working together to enable digitalisation

Dr Patrick Courtney | SiLA consortium

12:00 - 13:00

Panel discussion: Driving robotics adoption in the life sciences

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch and networking

14:00 - 14:20

Automating Chemical Synthesis and Molecular Measurements: Robotics, AI-driven Processes and Safe Autonomy

Professor Ian Fairlamb | University of York

14:20 - 14:40

Accelerating Biocatalysis through Materials Discovery

Dr Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti | Aston University

14:40 - 15:00

DIGIBAT: An automated high-throughput robotic platform for accelerated battery and fuels discovery

Dr Jingyu Feng | Imperial College London

15:00 - 16:00

Lab tours and networking

16:00 - 16:20

Small Features, Big Impact: Designing at the Microscale with Generative AI

Dr Martin Lea | Polaron

16:20 - 16:40

Talk title to be confirmed

Paul Orange | Labman

16:40

Day 1 closes

Day 2

08:45 - 9:00

Arrival and refreshments

09:00 - 09:20

Adventures in Automation – lessons from the past, visions for the future

Dr Jake Grace | Clariant

09:20 - 09:40

Accelerating high SPF suncare formulation development using Automation and AI

Dr Airit Agasty | Croda

09:40 - 10:00

Universal Files, the digital currency for your lab

Dr Simon Yates | AstraZeneca

10:00 - 10:45

Panel discussion: Automation challenges – handling difficult materials

10:45 - 11:20

Break

11:20 - 11:40

The Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC): An Ecosystem for Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced Materials at the University of Salford

Prof. Maziar Nezhad

11:40 - 12:00

Industrialising Fragile-Object Handling

Dr Mahesh Dissanayake | MTC

12:00 - 13:00

Panel discussion: The future of lab automation

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch and optional lab tours

14:00

Event closes


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Event details

Register here

CPI - The Coxon Building

John Walker Road

Sedgefield

TS21 3FE

Event start

10:00

Event end

14:00

£80-100

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