Corporate Partnership Programme event allows industry representatives and EMBL researchers to exchange ideas on AI research and development
Founded in 2009, the CPP hosts an annual meeting to connect industry to EMBL scientists. Credit: King Lubowiecka/EMBL
From microscopy to therapeutics, AI and life sciences made for a captivating ‘main dish’ at this year’s EMBL Corporate Partnership Programme (CPP) annual meeting and dinner.
Founded in 2009, the CPP has served as a hub for collaboration to support the next generation of molecular life scientists through training. It has also connected global leaders from participating companies to EMBL’s world-leading scientists to share information on the latest developments. Each year, the programme holds a networking event, including talks on a given theme. This year’s theme was ‘AI in life sciences’, with presentations on topics ranging from drug discovery and product development to protein design and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
“The event always leaves participants with a broadened perspective,” said Nadine Ilk, CPP Manager. “Each year, our themes represent some of the most cutting-edge life science research, and this year’s theme of AI was no exception. We heard some impressive talks about how AI drives research and development in so many different areas of academia and industry.”
The following snapshots from the event capture the mood of the evening:
The annual meeting started with flash talks from industry representatives, including this one from Sabrina Kasper of NetApp. She spoke about how the company uses AI in a variety of ways: in internal operations, to empower product development, and to improve customer service. She spoke about the AI data challenge and the need to ensure data storage and access for successful AI project delivery. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBLParticipants heard a variety of talks, like this one from Britta Wagenhuber, who works at Sanofi. She spoke on the possibility of using virtual patients to accelerate the discovery and development of novel drugs. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBLSix speakers from industry provided flash talks, such as Siyuan Chen from Twist Bioscience. He talked about how scientists ‘write the future’ of AI by enabling the AI revolution in protein design. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBLThe dinner included a plenary session with EMBL scientists, who provided updates on how AI is being incorporated in myriad science and technology projects, for example, in omics and structural biology. It also allowed for informal discussions between speakers (such as Maurice Peemen from Thermo Fisher Scientific, shown here), guests, and EMBL representatives. Peemen’s flash talk addressed how AI-powered cryo-EM helps to unlock molecular insights. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBLAs moderator of the plenary session, EMBL’s Head of Genome Biology, Eileen Furlong, steered lively discussions between speakers and guests. For EMBL, the event also offered an opportunity to thank industry partners for their ongoing support and collaboration. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBLEMBL Deputy Director General Ewan Birney capped off the evening by presenting the keynote address. His message echoed others, who look forward to the opportunities that continue to grow as a result of AI, as well as to the fruitful collaborations made possible through the CPP. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBL
