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Designing the Lab of the Future

Building for productivity, innovation, and flexibility

The why

Investing in a Lab of the Future is a major commitment, both in capital and in the ambition to accelerate R&D. For leaders, the challenge is not simply about constructing new facilities. It is about ensuring the investment truly unlocks future capabilities: designing SAR cycle workflows that can adapt as science advances, integrating new research modalities and deploying automation and AI. The right decisions today will determine productivity and impact for years to come.

The challenge

Our client faced a high-stakes question: how to design a Lab of the Future, across thousands of square meters, that would optimise scientific workflows, enable technology adoption, and foster continuous innovation. The lab needed to support emerging modalities and bring together in-silico and in-vitro work in a modular, efficient way.

How we helped

Biobridge Partners worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the client team to define an operating model built around SAR cycle workflows and capabilities. We mapped logical handover points between core capabilities, focusing on the interfaces where process, technology, and competencies intersect. Special attention was given to modern technology platforms, i.e. the evolution of core facilities to accelerate discovery and ensure flexibility and scalability for the future.

Outcome

clock arrow up
Productivity increases by structured, modular workflows
Workflows designed to achieve a 25+% increase in productivity, while allowing the lab of the future to adapt to new research directions and scientific needs. The workflows guided the architecture and floor plan design of the laboratory.
speed 4
Acceleration through technology platforms
The plan leveraged next-generation core facilities in Genomics, Imaging, LS-MS, Histology and Compound management, turning them into true technology platforms, and enabling teams to access high-end automation and AI tools efficiently.
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Innovation with flexibility
By combining modularity and future readiness into the lab’s design with new agile ways of working in disease understanding the client can now foster more breakthrough innovation and improved assay development.

What moved the needle

We found that sustainable impact comes from getting the fundamentals right.
Clarity on capabilities Connecting competences, processes and technologies to produce an output that everyone can recognize and design workflows around.
Seamless technology integration Understanding how Technology Platforms can increase R&D productivity
People-centric approach to workflow design Breaking legacy competence silos to design for breakthrough innovation, faster SAR cycles and research outcomes.
Partner

Jens Rommer

Jens is a seasoned strategy advisor with 30 years of experience in management consulting. Former Head of Monitor Deloitte Denmark, he brings deep expertise in shaping corporate agendas, TA strategies, operating model design, digital and AI value creation, and M&A for leading global corporations.

Jens holds an M.Sc. in Electronics Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and is a certified Master Strategist from Monitor Deloitte.

Selected experience
  • Opportunity assessment for a commercialization partner
  • TA strategy for immunology business
  • Lab of the Future potential and operating model design
  • Performance management in clinical operations
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Jens Rommer
Partner

Jonas Karlsen

Jonas is a life science strategist supporting executives drive progress across the value chain. He is an expert in bridging strategy and execution via global operating model design and transformation rooted in strategic objectives. He engages with structured top-down thinking and a pragmatic and collaborative approach to mobilise organizations and make things happen.

Jonas holds a Ph.D. in biophysics from the Technical University of Denmark, DTU, and further studied at California Institute of Technology. Recipient of the Ministry of Sciences Elite Research Award.

Selected experience
  • Ecosystem integration and external innovation pipeline
  • Lab of the future capability building and operating model design
  • Global clinical operating model design and transformation
  • Pre-launch strategy for cardiometabolic TA development
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Jonas Karlsen