Over the first 30 months of BIOINDUSTRY 4.0 progress was achieved across all scientific and technical activities.
Work towards a data fabric, framework and compute environment to support transmission to digital twins advanced. Specifications and minimum information models were established, paving the way for a first prototype. This enables structuring of FAIR (open science-compatible) [meta]data sets, preparing them for AI applications. Additional work tested containerised workflows and real-time streaming. Early work on a biotechnology dataspace was also done, preparing a federated data infrastructure for biotechnology R&D.
Using legacy and newly acquired data, multiscale datasets from several microbial use cases were collected, describing physiological behaviour, omics, metabolic dynamics, and physico-chemical features of bioreactions. All were organised with a standard template and uploaded to the Yoda platform. These datasets now train models and support digital twin development.
Preparatory work also progressed: modelling scaffolds were prepared in different coding languages, bioreactor model libraries established, and algorithms for real-time validation implemented. Early tests show good performance on legacy data. Tools identifying metabolic states and optimal feeding strategies are available to enhance productivity and stability. This first phase paves the way for advanced prototypes at project end.
Alongside modelling, progress on Process Analytical Tools (PAT devices) was fruitful. Development led to trials of an in situ microscope for real-time microbial physiology and a Raman-based device at 775 nm. Work on all devices progressed, enabling further testing. Simultaneously, analysis of PAT-generated data advanced, linking physical and digital environments.
To harness microbial diversity, a new microbial strain data standard was developed and shared via GitHub, catalogues were enriched with datasets from legacy data or text-mining, and a prototype for natural language querying of the strain discovery interface (www.strainsbook.org) was tested; further work is underway. If successful, the DSS will accelerate discovery and democratise access to microbial collections.
Finally, stakeholder consultations through interviews and focus groups were held to ensure tools meet user needs and secure uptake of services under development in BIOINDUSTRY 4.0.
