DSM and TU Delft launch Artificial Intelligence Lab

Royal DSM and TU Delft announced the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Lab for Biosciences (the AI4B.io Lab). This lab is the first of its kind in Europe to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to the entire field of bioproduction, from the development of microbial strains to large-scale industrial process optimization and planning.

The AI4B.io Lab is part of the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI), which is committed to keeping the Netherlands at the forefront of knowledge and talent development in artificial intelligence. The lab is headed by Professor Marcel Reinders, director of the TU Delft Bioengineering Institute. DSM will invest 2.5 million euros in the laboratory during the first five years. Increased knowledge of biology and huge advances in digital transformation, today offer fascinating opportunities for new biotechnology products, applications and production processes. By integrating life sciences and digital technologies, the time spent on innovation cycles - from prototyping to fine-tuning and marketing - can be reduced. 

Desired goal comes to life digitally

Traditionally, scientific research has been a process of trial and error in multiple sub-studies that collectively work toward a specific goal, such as a new product or production technology. What makes KI so unique is that it allows scientists to reverse this process. The desired goal is brought to life in a digital environment using digital twins, a virtual and lifelike version of the desired situation, and with the application of machine learning, insight is gained into how that situation can be achieved. Although KI is already widely used in technology research, the AI4B.io Lab is the first of its kind to explore the potential of KI in life sciences and bioproduction.

No innovation without collaboration

Intensive collaboration with partners stimulates progress and opens doors to new technologies. For this reason, DSM decided to work with TU Delft to set up and develop the AI4B.io Lab. TU Delft is also investing in 24 interdisciplinary KI labs in different fields to promote collaboration between scientists working on KI and scientists from other fields. The AI4B.io Lab will also collaborate with Planet B.io, the open innovation ecosystem at the Biotech Campus Delft. Both DSM and TU Delft are co-founders of Planet B.io.

Professor Marcel Reinders, Director TU Delft Bioengineering Institute: "Biotechnology can contribute significantly to solving major social problems such as climate change, healthy food for the rapidly growing world population and scarcity of raw materials. KI plays an important role in the development of biotechnological applications, but from a scientific point of view there are still many questions to be answered at the cellular, laboratory and process level. By linking our fundamental research to concrete opportunities at DSM, we can maximize our impact."

Marcus Remmers, Chief Technology Officer DSM: "TU Delft has a proven track record in pioneering research in the fields of KI, biotechnology and bioinformatics. DSM is a global company that develops science-based sustainable biotechnology products and solutions for commercial purposes. Both parties are therefore the perfect match to jointly address important scientific and societal challenges."

Cindy Gerhardt, Director Planet B.io: "At Planet B.io we encourage open innovation and collaboration between start-ups, companies and knowledge institutions to develop biotechnological products and solutions. We look forward to working with AI4B.io to increase the potential of KI and biotechnology."

tudelft.nl