Ilmac Conference
The Ilmac Conference Basel 2025 invites you to discover the latest developments and innovations with a direct link to applications and industrial processes in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector. This year, the 4th Swiss Green & Sustainable Chemistry Days will showcase successful approaches as well as trends and outlooks in Transforming Innovative R&D into Sustainable Chemical Practices. The first day will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital methods, the second day on sustainable applied methods and enabling key technologies and the third day on biotech and biomanufacturing.
Target Audience
The Conference is designed for professionals and researchers dedicated to advancing sustainable practices in chemical innovation. It brings together a diverse audience, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across industry and academia.
- Industrial Researchers: From early-stage development to process design and scale-up, professionals working in R&D, manufacturing, and innovation will gain valuable insights into the latest sustainable methodologies and practical applications
- Academics: University researchers focused on applied chemistry and sustainable solutions will find opportunities to engage with industry leaders, explore real-world challenges, and contribute to bridging the gap between fundamental research and industrial implementation
- Students (MSc and PhD): Prospective chemists and engineers interested in green and sustainable chemistry can exchange ideas with industry experts, familiarize themselves with the latest developments and explore career opportunities in research and development
This Conference serves as a dynamic platform for networking, idea exchange, and shaping the future of sustainable chemical practices.
The Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) supports the scientific community and promotes chemistry-related activities and the information exchange among academic, government, and industrial scientists. As the main partner, SCS is responsible for organizing the Ilmac Conference.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital methods
Day 1: 16. September 2025 | 10.00 – 17.00 h
Organisation Committee: Claudio Battilocchio (Syngenta), Fabrice Gallou (Novartis)
Within less than a decade, Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies have transformed the way to envision and conduct chemistry. From conceptual and design aspects, to process intensification and optimization, or gains in productivity, taken alone or combined with automation, these breakthroughs have profoundly disrupted traditional workflows. We are excited to bring together leaders in the field who will share their latest work and insights.
| Morning Session | Chair: Claudio Battilocchio, Syngenta |
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| 10.00 | Prof. Philippe Schwaller, EPFL Lausanne |
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| 10.30 | Dr. Loïc Roch, Atinary Technologies Inc., Lausanne, CH |
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| 11.00 | Coffee Break |
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| 11.15 | «Key role of AI in delivery of sustainable chemical solutions» Prof. Alexei Lapkin, University of Cambridge |
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| 12.00 | Q&A Session and Discussion |
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| 12.15 | Lunch Break |
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Afternoon Session
| Afternoon Session | Chair: Fabrice Gallou, Novartis |
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| 13.30 | Dr. Marwin Segler, Microsoft, London |
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| 14.15 | Dr. Patrick Ruch, IBM, Zürich, Switzerland |
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| 14.45 | Break |
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| 15.00 | Dr. Maks Kiamos Shah, Syngenta Crop Protection AG |
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| 15.30 | Panel Discussion |
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| 16.30 | Aperitif |
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| 17.00 | Ilmac Party |
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Sustainable applied methods and enabling key technologies
Day 2: 17. September 2025 | 9.30 – 16.30 h
Scientific Committee: Claudio Battilocchio (Syngenta), Fabrice Gallou (Novartis), Edouard Godineau (Syngenta), Niklaus Künzle (Lonza)
Sustainability is becoming a top priority in the chemical industry, with increasing visibility and urgency for innovative design, impactful metrics, and enabling technologies. The symposium provides a platform for general trends, visionary approaches, and concrete applications like flow chemistry, mechanochemistry and innovative catalytic approaches. Join key experts to gain innovative ideas and stimulate discussions, with the goal of accelerating your organization’s growth and prompting substantial impact in the near-term.
| 09.30 | Prof. John Warner, The Technology GreenHouse, Woburn MA, USA |
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| 10.15 | «Data Driven Decision Making Towards Sustainable Process Development» Dr. Michael Luescher, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, CH |
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| 10.45 | Coffee Break |
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| 11.00 | Dr. David Linder, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, CH |
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| 11.30 | «To Sustainability and Beyond! A Computer-Aided Story on a Circular Chemical Industry» Prof. André Bardow, ETH Zurich, CH |
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| 12.00 | Anna Bozzi, scienceindustries |
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| 12.45 | Lunch Break |
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Afternoon Session
| Afternoon Session | Chair: Niklaus Künzle, Lonza |
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| 14.00 | «Mechanochemistry: Chemical Synthesis without Bulk Reaction Solvent» Prof. Duncan Browne, University College London, UK |
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| 14.45 | «Implementation of Enzymes in Amine-Focussed Processes» Prof. Francesca Paradisi, University of Bern, CH |
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| 15.15 | «Mechanochemical Synthesis: From Small Molecules to Cavitands» Prof. Riina Aav, Tallinn University of Technology, EE |
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| 15.45 | Q&A Session |
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| 16.00 | Aperitif |
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| 16.30 | Swiss Women in Life Sciences Networking Event |
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Biotech and Biomanufacturing – Sustainability in biotechnological processes and products
Day 3: 18. September 2025 | 9.00 – 15.30 h
Scientific Committee: Sonia Thomson (FHNW), Max Murone (SBA), Hanspeter Meyer (SATW), Roland Wolgemuth (SKB)
Biotechnology is revolutionizing how we produce chemicals and pharmaceuticals. From alternative production methods like biocatalysis, to the production of modalities like biosimilars, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and synthetic mRNA vaccines, biomanufacturing innovations are opening new frontiers for efficiency and sustainability. Meet experts from big pharma, biotechs and academia who will share the latest developments and innovative approaches.
| 09.00 | Welcome Coffee |
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| 09.30 | «Manufacturing Strategies for Biosimilars» Dr. Anne Marie de Jonge–Schuermans, Sandoz, Basel |
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| 10.00 | «Engineering Protein Catalysts for Synthetic Applications» Prof. Rebecca Buller, University of Bern, CH |
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| 10.30 | Coffee Break |
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| 10.45 | «Novel Linker and Bioconjugation Technology for the Production of Next Generation ADC Candidates with Improved Therapeutic Index (TI)» Dr. Bernd Schlereth Araris Biotech, Au, CH |
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| 11.15 | Dr. Florian Kleinbeck, Novartis Pharma AG |
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| 11.45 | Panel Discussion | Moderation: Sonia Thomson, Communications specialist for science, technology and innovation, FHNW Muttenz |
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| 12.30 | Lunch Break |
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Afternoon Session
| 13.30 | «Synthetic mRNA Vaccines: the Past, the Present and the Future» Prof. Steve Pascolo, University Hospital UZH, CH |
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| 14.00 | «Quality by Design-Driven Process Characterization of Bacteriophage Production to Combat Antimicrobial-Resistant P. aeruginosa» Prof. Carmen Jungo Rhême, HEIA Fribourg |
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| 14.30 | «Biocatalysis at Roche: Recent Examples» Dr. Serena Bisagni, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG |
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| 15.00 | Q&A Session/Discussion |
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| 15.30 | Aperitif |
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Profit from this unique networking opportunity and connect with researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to discuss sustainable solutions for the future of the chemical and biotech industries.
Conference Programm at Ilmac 365
Here you will soon also find the complete Ilmac Conference program.
Conference Partner
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Please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help!
Ilmac Team
David Spichiger
Swiss Chemical Society (SCS)
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