D-Konstanz | For four years, seven EU-wide partners from research and development have been working hand in hand on the TraceBot funding project with the aim of making laboratory automation in the pharmaceutical sector faster and more efficient using innovative, intelligent robots. The funding phase of the project, which was supported by the EU's Horizon 2020 programme, has now come to an end. The results of this successful project will benefit pharmaceutical companies of all sizes, from SMEs to international corporations.
The international TraceBot consortium is pleased with the results. Between January 2021 and March 2025, the partners involved, succeeded in setting a milestone in modern pharmaceutical automation by developing a cognitive, autonomous robotic system. Particularly outstanding is the integration of intelligent gripper arms and sensor-based processes that are capable of performing complex tasks safely, reproducibly and in compliance with GMP.
Team of renowned experts proves success through cross-border cooperation
"A key factor in the success of our project was the makeup of our international consortium, which brought together renowned experts from across Europe and enabled direct collaboration." explains Maike Neumann from BioLAGO e.V., who coordinates the international consortium of the TraceBot project. With TECNALIA from Spain, TraceBot had an experienced partner in the field of robotics and modern manufacturing on board. CEA from France was responsible for the development of the sensory gripper. The Vienna University of Technology, with its Institute for Automation and Control Technology, contributed in-depth expertise in vision sensing. The University of Bremen, with its Institute for Artificial Intelligence, developed innovative solutions for intelligent perception, plan-based robot control and knowledge-based decision-making processes. INVITE GmbH from Germany provided connections to regulatory and industrial skateholders, while Astech Projects from the United Kingdom was responsible for the concrete system integration and application readiness.
Innovations with sustainable benefits
What makes TraceBot special is the system's ability to use sensor-based perception and adaptive control to automatically and validably perform complex manual tasks, previously executed only by humans.
From the outset, the TraceBot consortium aimed to support pharmaceutical processes with advanced robotic solutions that ensure safe, precise, and reliable handling. These technologies help maintain consistent production and could accelerate the development and availability of new medications — all while upholding the highest quality standards.
Award-winning achievements
The 2024 ISPE Robotics Applications of the Year Award (RAYA) honored innovative robotic solutions in the pharmaceutical industry. The TraceBot project won in the “Future Software Trends in Pharma” category for its promising impact on pharmaceutical automation. Around 150 professionals participated in live voting, reflecting strong industry collaboration. ‘This demonstrates the high relevance of our development approach, but also the international recognition and visibility of our successes,’ reports Dr Charly Coulon from Invite GmbH proudly.
A project with impact – even beyond the funding phase
The growing need for fast, safe, and scalable solutions in pharmaceutical manufacturing has become increasingly evident, underscoring the importance of innovation and efficiency in the industry. "We are convinced that TraceBot can make a decisive contribution to accelerating approval processes and further increasing the safety of pharmaceutical products. In doing so, we are also making an important contribution to European healthcare and resilience," concludes Dr Anthony Remazeilles from Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation, scientific and technical director of the TraceBot project.