Your Submission to the Robotics Application of the Year Award (RAYA)

ISPE D/A/CH Robotics Application of the Year Award

Onto the stage in just 2 steps

with the most innovative robotics solutions in the pharmaceutical world!

Our applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their application to the pharmaceutical world live at the event!

How does the application work?

Application form

You can register by filling out the form via the link below. The complete submission should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines contained in these instructions and submitted electronically by email to . Submissions must be received by the specified deadline and each submission must include all required information and signatures to be complete.

If you have any questions, please read our FAQ or send us a message to one of the following e-mail addresses:
robotics-award@ispe-dach.org or coulon@invite-r esearch.com

The application deadline is July 19, 2026 23:59 UTC-5.

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Criteria

Each concept or application will be evaluated on the basis of the criteria listed below. Please note the name of the prize: It is about “Robotics”. The robot should therefore play an important role in your application. This role must be made clear in your description of the application.

Attractiveness of the applications: Support meaningful use case and a description of the concept/application with quantified business drivers in the following areas: Ergonomics, improved process quality, efficiency, 24/7 availability, aseptic conditions, human protection, sustainability.
Economic potential of your application: You will only receive points in this category if you present an argument based on reasonable assumptions. Finally, you must select one of the following four categories for the “return on investment” and substantiate your argument:
< 1 Jahr; < 3 Jahre; < 5 Jahre; > 5 Jahre
Attractiveness for use throughout the pharmaceutical industryOverview of the area within the pharmaceutical industry where your application can be used in production facilities and laboratories.
Flexibility of your application: Examples include automated functions for format changes, line release, product adjustment, built-in cleaning processes or simple requalification.
Ease of integration: How much effort does it take to deploy your application to other customers? Categorize your application according to the following five options and describe your arguments:
* Plug&Play: Anyone can buy it, including qualification, * Application without customization: Anyone can buy it, apply without customization, but qualification required
* Applicable with appropriate adjustments (to be described)
* The concept is transferable, but the engineering must be adapted
* Concept is transferable, but redesign required

Restrictions 2026

Automation of manual/physical tasks (no pure software application / no RPA)
Robot-centered automation
– No classic machinery without robots
– Mobile robotics is included in RAYA
Readyness level: (TRL 6 or 7)
– At least one installed pilot
– installed in the intended environment (production site / R&D site)
– Safety certification started
– qualified or qualification planned
Applicable in the pharmaceutical industry
There are no regional restrictions: Applications can include robot applications from anywhere in the world!

Our jury

Charly Coulon

INVITE GmbH

Dr. Carl-Helmut Coulon joined Bayer in November 1997 after completing his doctorate in the field of artificial intelligence. Throughout his career, his goal has been to support production with technology, focusing mainly on digitalization and automation.

Since 2015, he has headed the Future Manufacturing Concepts group at INVITE, a public-private partnership between Bayer AG, the Technical University of Dortmund and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. INVITE’s mission in this area is 100% aligned with the mission of the Robotics Application of the Year Award: Accelerate the use of advanced robotics in our industry!

Henrik Hegelund Louw

Novo Nordisk A/S

Henrik Hegelund Louw has experience in various industries such as consumer electronics, aerospace, defense, marine and pharmaceuticals with a focus on innovation, product development and automation. Throughout his career, he has always aimed to create the right conditions to link research and development more closely together so that they can reach industry faster and with a higher degree of maturity.

Since 2014, he has held various positions at Novo Nordisk in the areas of strategy, innovation and leadership.

Christine Eckardt

Johnson & Johnson

Christine Eckardt has been part of ISPE for more than 12 years and due to her absolute passion for new technologies, it was clear that she would get a place on the jury of the Robotics Application of the Year Award.

She has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 20 years and the constant focus on the possibilities of robotics and automation has made her path very interesting. She lives her passion according to the motto: do it with passion or not at all.

Miguel Alvarina

Lonza

After studying chemistry in Spain and Germany, Miguel Alvariño Gil started in the quality control department at Takeda in Ireland and later moved to Lonza in Switzerland, where he held a similar position. After a period as head of QA release activities at Paxvax, he returned to Lonza and led the digitalization of QC activities at Lonza Visp for three years.

Over the past four years, he has focused on the automation and robotization of various QC laboratory activities, leveraging his expertise in process optimization. He also holds an MBA in General Management, which he completed in 2017.

Andrea Tanzini

Director, Robotics Division – Italy at Staubli Robotics

Andrea has a degree in automation and robotics engineering, with a postgraduate master’s specialization in GMP production.

As well as being a member of the steering committee of the ISPE “Future of Robotics” community, he is currently Director of the Italian division of Staubli Robotics, having coordinated the Italian life sciences and food team for several years. It supports system integrators, OEMs, engineering companies and end users in the introduction of high value-added robotic solutions to reduce the risk of contamination and increase production efficiency.

Andrea regularly lectures on the implementation and use of robots in pharmaceutical production – both at the University of Pavia and at AIFA (Italian Medicines Agency) – and is the lead author of a scientific article published in the journal Pharmaceutics: “Robotics and Aseptic Processing in View of Regulatory Requirements”.

Jochen Radmer

Hochschule Jade

Prof. Dr. Jochen Radmer has been with Bayer AG since 2016, having previously held several positions. Prior to this, he completed his doctorate and conducted research in the field of image processing for robot control.

At Bayer AG, he worked as a technical expert for automation and robotics and promoted the cross-location networking of robotics experts within the company. During this time, he was also appointed to a professorship for digital production and automation technology. This allows him to pursue his passionate goal of strengthening the link between industry and science by advancing robotics and innovative solutions in practice.