16. – 18. Sept. 2025 | Messe Basel

Conference

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.

Ilmac Conference Program 2025

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.

Main Partner 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)

LabDigitalization — Pop Nukoonrat | Dreamstime.com

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
10.00	«Teaching Language Models to Speak Chemistry» Prof. Philippe Schwaller, EPFL Lausanne
10.30	Dr. Loïc Roch, Atinary Technologies Inc., Lausanne, CH
11.00	Coffee Break
11.15	«Key role of AI in delivery of sustainable chemical solutions» Prof. Alexei Lapkin, University of Cambridge
12.00	Q&A Session and Discussion
12.15	Lunch Break

Afternoon Session

Afternoon Session	Chair: Fabrice Gallou, Novartis
13.30	Dr. Marwin Segler, Microsoft, London
14.15	Dr. Patrick Ruch, IBM, Zürich, Switzerland
14.45	Break
15.00	«It All Starts with Data@Scale» Dr. Maks Kiamos Shah, Syngenta Crop Protection AG
15.30	Panel Discussion
16.30	Aperitif
17.00	Ilmac Party

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)

ChemTech — Christian Delbert | Dreamstime.com

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	«Green Chemistry: The Missing Elements» Prof. John C. Warner, CEO & CTO, Technology Greenhouse, USA
10.15	«Data Driven Decision Making Towards Sustainable Process Development» Dr. Michael Luescher, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, CH
10.45	Coffee Break
11.00	«From Flow Chemistry to Continuous Processing: Shifting the Mindset in Drug Synthesis» Dr. David Linder, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, CH
11.30	«To Sustainability and Beyond! A Computer-Aided Story on a Circular Chemical Industry» Prof. André Bardow, ETH Zurich, CH
12.00	anel Discussion with speakers from the morning session Moderation Anna Bozzi, scienceindustries
12.45	Lunch Break

Afternoon Session

Afternoon Session	Chair: Niklaus Künzle, Lonza
14.00	«Mechanochemistry: Chemical Synthesis without Bulk Reaction Solvent» Prof. Duncan Browne, University College London, UK
14.45	«Implementation of Enzymes in Amine-Focussed Processes» Prof. Francesca Paradisi, University of Bern, CH
15.15	«Mechanochemical Synthesis: From Small Molecules to Cavitands» Prof. Riina Aav, Tallinn University of Technology, EE
15.45	Q&A Session
16.00	Aperitif
16.30	Swiss Women in Life Sciences Networking Event

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
09.30	«Manufacturing Strategies for Biosimilars» Dr. Anne Marie de Jonge–Schuermans, Sandoz, Basel
10.00	«Engineering Protein Catalysts for Synthetic Applications» Prof. Rebecca Buller, University of Bern, CH
10.30	Coffee Break
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
11.15	«Biocatalysis in Chemical R&D at Novartis – Leveraging its Full Potential Throughout All Development Stages» Dr. Florian Kleinbeck, Novartis Pharma AG
11.45	Panel Discussion \| Moderation: Sonia Thomson, Communications specialist for science, technology and innovation, FHNW Muttenz
12.30	Lunch Break

Afternoon Session

13.30	«Synthetic mRNA Vaccines: the Past, the Present and the Future» Prof. Steve Pascolo, University Hospital UZH, CH
14.00	«Quality by Design-Driven Process Characterization of Bacteriophage Production to Combat Antimicrobial-Resistant P. aeruginosa» Prof. Carmen Jungo Rhême, HEIA Fribourg
14.30	«Biocatalysis at Roche: Recent Examples» Dr. Serena Bisagni, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
15.00	Q&A Session/Discussion
15.30	Aperitif

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.