Workshop Highlights Potential for the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries

Artificial Intelligence and Simulation as Drivers of Innovation in Biotechnology

Press Release / November 10, 2025

How can Artificial Intelligence and simulation advance biotechnology? What innovations from research can help companies use resources more efficiently and increase value creation? These questions were the focus of the workshop »AI and Simulation in Biotechnology« at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM in Kaiserslautern. On November 7, 2025, experts from research, industry, and politics discussed sustainable and efficient solutions for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Clemens Hoch, Minister of Science for Rhineland-Palatinate, opened the event. In his welcoming address, he emphasized the excellence of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology. Both are future fields with great potential. »The goal is to strengthen the links between basic research and its transfer into practical applications and to forge even closer connections between the two,« said Minister Hoch.

With this focus in mind, more than 60 participants from science and industry took the opportunity to exchange ideas in presentations and discussion panels. The presentations by the experts covered a wide range of topics, from industrial biotechnology and bio-printing-based applications to data-driven process optimization. It is clear that there is great potential in further linking the training of data-based learning methods with expertise in biological relationships and biotechnological production processes.

© Fraunhofer ITWM
Die Teilnehmenden der Podiumsdiskussion sehen in der Künstliche Intelligenz ein Werkzeug, mit dem Prozesse in der Industrie besser, effizienter und nachhaltiger werden können. V.l.n.r: Prof. Michael Maskos (Fraunhofer IMM), Thomas Reith (Boehringer Ingelheim), Wissenschaftsminister Clemens Hoch, Prof. Dr. Michael Bortz (Fraunhofer ITWM), Dr.-Ing. Eva Wilke (BASF), Prof. Dr. Roland Ulber (RPTU), Prof. Dr. Blaeser (TU Darmstadt, Black Drop Biodrucker)

Panel Discussion: Visions of Artificial Intelligence in Biotechnology

Minister Clemens Hoch, Thomas Reith from Boehringer Ingelheim, Prof. Roland Ulber from RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Dr. Eva Wilke from BASF, Prof. Michael Maskos from Fraunhofer IMM, and Prof. Blaeser from TU Darmstadt contributed their different perspectives to the panel discussion. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Michael Bortz from Fraunhofer ITWM.

Minister of Science Hoch sees the promotion of biotechnology as a strategic task. When asked where he sees Rhineland-Palatinate in ten years, Minister Hoch outlined his vision: »In ten years, people will think of Rhineland-Palatinate first when they think of AI and biotechnology in Germany.« Until then, there are still many individual steps to be taken – making investments and exploiting research results.

Whether Global Player or Start-up: Industry Grows Together With Research

Eva Wilke from BASF, the largest employer in Rhineland-Palatinate, cites various developments and approaches that she considers particularly important for the future of the chemical industry. These include, among other things, making green carbon competitive and simplifying genetic engineering laws. Prof. Ulber from RPTU takes up the topic of »green hydrogen.« Research has been focusing on this for 20 years. Now is the time to move from basic research to industrial application.

With regard to the competitiveness of Germany as a business location, Thomas Reith, site manager at Boehringer Ingelheim in Biberach, sees a need to connect large companies, Germany's strong SME sector, research, and the start-up scene. »All the pieces of the puzzle are there, now it's a matter of putting them together,« said Reith. Prof. Dr. Blaeser, professor at TU Darmstadt and founder of the company Black Drop Biodrucker, also addressed the start-up scene: The dynamic start-up industry in Germany, with its many ideas, shows how basic research and transfer are already growing closer together.

Research for New Industries in a Future Industrial Landscape

Professor Michael Maskos, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM, also takes a look at the future in ten years' time. In times of increasing competition and complexity, he sees Fraunhofer as a pioneer and bridge builder. He believes that one of the tasks of research is to encourage SMEs to be successful in new industries. The industrial landscape in ten years' time will look very different from today. Now is the time to strike out in new directions.

The participants in the panel discussion agree: Artificial Intelligence is a tool that improves and accelerates processes and enables new discoveries. They see great potential in the combination of Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology. »It is of central importance that AI and biotechnology are used for the benefit of humanity, society, and the environment. In Rhineland-Palatinate, we find the perfect ecosystem for this,« emphasizes Minister Hoch.

Accelerating the Development of Nanomedicines

One example of the successful combination of Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology is the project »Smart-Form – Smart, AI-supported formulation development for effective nanotherapeutics,« which is funded by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In close cooperation with Fraunhofer IMM, Fraunhofer ITWM is developing an innovative platform for optimizing formulation processes for nanomedicines. The aim is to accelerate and improve the development of effective and sustainable drug forms through the targeted use of AI. The project makes an important contribution to strengthening drug sovereignty in Germany and at the same time promotes sustainability in pharmaceutical production.

© Fraunhofer ITWM
In seinem Grußwort betont Wissenschaftsminister Clemens Hoch die Exzellenz des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz sowohl in der Künstlichen Intelligenz als auch in der Biotechnologie.

Organizers and Partners

The workshop »AI and Simulation in Biotechnology« was organized by the Simulation and Software-Based Innovation Performance Center in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institutes for Industrial Mathematics ITWM and Microsystems Engineering IMM, with support from the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health.

Press Release

Workshop Highlights Potential for the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries

Artificial Intelligence and Simulation as Drivers of Innovation in Biotechnology

More Information

Panel Discussion: Visions of Artificial Intelligence in Biotechnology

Whether Global Player or Start-up: Industry Grows Together With Research

Research for New Industries in a Future Industrial Landscape

Accelerating the Development of Nanomedicines

Organizers and Partners

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Impressions of the Event

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Prof. Dr. Michael Bortz

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M.A. Swenja Broschart