Emerson Partners with NIBRT to Train Future Biopharma Workforce

Emerson, a technology and engineering company based in St. Louis, MO, will be providing automation software and systems to Ireland’s National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) to help train next-generation personnel on the technologies designed to optimize pharmaceutical production, the institute announced in a press statement on Feb. 27, 2018.

The technology, valued at $1 million (approximately EUR 820,000), include Emerson’s automation platform, DeltaV distributed control system, which will be installed at NIBRT’s Dublin facility to prepare students for automation technologies at the forefront of manufacturing digitization, according to NIBRT.

This alliance includes the building of an Emerson Room at the NIBRT facility, which will simulate an innovative bioprocessing environment and feature a fully operational DeltaV system to provide real-life training in a safe environment, as stated by NIBRT.

This collaboration follows a 2016 NIBRT study of the biopharma manufacturing industry that found that more than half of respondents reportedly have a high degree of difficulty recruiting and developing bioprocess engineers.

“NIBRT is leading the way in helping Ireland, its universities, and Europe meet the demand for the skilled biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce the industry needs,” said Mike Train, executive president of Emerson Automation Solutions, in a press statement. “This collaboration reinforces Emerson’s commitment to support global workforce education, as well as the bioprocessing industry where our automation systems have become the industry standard.”

Source: NIBRT