ELRIG-Forum 2026: Abstracts
Dipl.-Inf. Sebastian Schöning, Prozessintelligenz“ IPA Fraunhofer, Stuttgart
Laboratory automation has advanced significantly: instruments are automated, workflows are partially orchestrated, and laboratories generate more data than ever before. Yet many labs still depend on manual interpretation, brittle integrations, and informal data handling practices. This talk argues that current limitations are not primarily technical, but structural: we have largely solved automation at the level of devices, while interoperability at the level of meaning remains an unresolved bottleneck.
Taking a reflective, high-level perspective, the presentation addresses where laboratories stand today, what has genuinely changed in recent years, and where further progress is needed. It highlights the difference between mere connectivity and true interoperability, extending from data formats and interfaces to shared semantics, operational context, and long-term robustness.
Christian Schäfer, Merck KGaA, Merck Electronics, Darmstadt
In the laboratory, we face the challenge that digital aspects are often present in system-specific data structures, while measurements are frequently available without context. Access to this information is crucial for informed evaluation, highlighting the problem of isolated data and illustrating how we have arrived at a data-oriented approach.
We have contributed to the integration of laboratory instruments with the Module Type Package (MTP) standard, successfully implementing it in both the laboratory and production environments. This integration enables a manufacturer-independent and open data architecture that significantly improves the portability of data as well as the quality and speed of data processing. A key aspect of this implementation is the automation of both processes and the equipment used. By automating data collection and processing, we can achieve greater efficiency and consistency in operations. The use of the MTP standard allows for the seamless integration of new automation technologies into existing systems and retrofitting of legacy equipment for the utilization of digital data.
A particular focus is placed on the importance of FAIR Data, which ensures that data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. We will examine the challenges and solutions associated with implementing such systems and highlight the distinction between a measurement and an information point to enhance efficiency and innovation in research.
Dr. Slatko Joncev, b12 Labs, Schweiz
In this talk we discuss the conceptual framework powering b12’s agents, with the core idea of using all sources of context in synthetic chemistry. From leveraging research in literature and existing public and private datasets, to enabling fast iteration on automated labs, b12’s mission is to ensure all context is leveraged, and that no context is lost in translation.
