As artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous laboratories and digital twins reshape chemical research, AUTOMA Chem 2026 brings industry leaders together in Berlin on 26–27 October to explore practical strategies for integrating these technologies. The event will showcase real-world implementation insights and examine how digital innovation can accelerate the next era of chemical research and development (R&D).
Overcoming Challenges in Chemical R&D
The chemical industry’s R&D landscape faces a growing challenge. Demand for sustainable materials, circular formulations and faster drug development continues to rise, yet traditional research and development models struggle to keep pace.
Bringing a patented chemical or advanced material to commercial scale can take five to seven years, while R&D costs continue to rise. At the same time, evolving regulations covering emissions, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and circularity are adding new compliance requirements to early-stage development.
Furthermore, fragmented and unstructured R&D data limits the effective use of AI, predictive modelling and collaborative research. Legacy infrastructure, lengthy scale-up cycles and skills shortages add to these challenges, prompting R&D leaders to demand measurable returns on their digital investments.
AI, Autonomous Labs and Digital Twins Drive Innovation
To overcome these barriers, chemical manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and technology providers are moving beyond incremental digitalisation towards integrated, AI-driven R&D workflows.
Autonomous laboratories, generative design and digital twins are increasingly moving from pilot projects into core research operations. These technologies can help researchers accelerate discovery, improve predictive accuracy and reduce risks during scale-up.
However, integrating these solutions across complex R&D pipelines remains challenging. Organisations must address data integrity, regulatory compliance and interoperability while ensuring that digital tools work seamlessly across systems.
Against this backdrop, AUTOMA Chem 2026 will bring together industry leaders, scientists and digital engineers to develop practical approaches to technology integration. Evonik will co-host the event, with WACKER, Covestro, LyondellBasell and Worley serving as regional partners. The programme will emphasise implementation roadmaps, data governance and cross-functional collaboration.
Expert Sessions on Digital Transformation in R&D
A key session within the business programme will examine how digital technologies can shorten discovery cycles, reduce scale-up risks and transform R&D from a cost centre into a driver of business growth.
Industry experts will share insights across several areas of digital chemical research:
Jose Seoane, Technology Advisor at Repsol: Self-driving laboratories for product discovery.
Dr. Dennis Krause, Program Manager Digital R&D at Covestro: AI and simulation for advanced materials.
Dr. Miriam Mathea, Global Scientific Discipline Lead Cheminformatics at BASF: AI-driven cheminformatics automation.
Alexis Torreele, Director, Process & Technology at Worley: Digital tools for technology scale-up.
Dr. Ewa Gajewska, Head of Product Management, SYNTHIA® at Merck: Digital solutions for synthesis and drug discovery.
These sessions will highlight practical approaches to integrating digital technologies into research workflows, improving development efficiency and accelerating the transition from laboratory discoveries to commercial applications.
Accelerating the Future of Chemical R&D
The future of chemical R&D will depend on how effectively organisations scale integrated, data-driven workflows. By combining expert discussions with structured networking and technology matchmaking, AUTOMA Chem 2026 aims to connect R&D leaders with solution providers to align digital strategies, share implementation experience and accelerate time-to-market.
As the industry advances towards more connected and intelligent research environments, the event offers a platform to explore how digital transformation can deliver measurable improvements in innovation and operational performance. Join the transformation: https://sh.bgs.group/4fi
