The value of the global life sciences market stood at $2.83 trillion in 2023 thanks largely to technological advancements in customised healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and genetics. One of the major drivers to developments in the life sciences is the use of robotics in areas as diverse as rehabilitation and diagnostics, and much of this valuable work is supported by IT teams that enable the integration of AI and robotics. In this blog we’ll explore how they manage the infrastructure that supports these advanced technologies and create seamless integration of AI and robotics.
An industry transformed
The use of AI and robotics in the life sciences is transforming the industry. Its reach now encompasses speeding up diagnoses in A&E triage and pathology labs, precision surgery, improving mobility, remote telemedicine, rehabilitation, training and end of life care as well as more mundane but equally important areas such as drug development, specimen testing, the assembling and packaging of products, precision measurement and sample handling.
The synergy of AI and robotics
The idea of AI-powered robotics was once the stuff of science fiction. Today it’s routine in automatically-operated systems in drug discovery, precision medicine and healthcare delivery. The advantages it offers include technologies capable of performing increasingly complex tasks, robots that can learn from their own experiences, adapt to new situations and environments, and make autonomous decisions. AI-powered robots can also be used to analyse vast quantities of data and improve their own performance, as well as interpret visual information to recognise objects, navigate through spaces and manipulate delicate and complex equipment.
The people behind the integration
Behind all this innovation are the people who keep the systems functional and enable the integration of AI and robotics – without them none of this vital work to improve healthcare and extend people’s lives would be possible. These are the teams of IT professionals who handle everything from AI-powered research tools to robotic systems in laboratories.
Let’s look at some of the areas in which they work.
- Maintaining cloud environments: investment in cloud computing in pharmaceuticals alone will reach £593 million by 2030 and over 83% of pharma companies have already invested in cloud services. Cloud computing offers flexibility, allowing companies to scale up and down subject to their requirements, and agility, offering fast resource allocation when needed. It enables companies to develop products more quickly and reduces the costs associated with the IT infrastructure required. And it encourages collaboration between teams anywhere in the world resulting in rapid innovation and a shorter time-to-market.
- Ensuring data security: reducing the risk of the loss of data or confidential patient information is a primary consideration for everyone working in the life sciences industry. Without it, there is a loss of trust and potentially costly intellectual property can fall into the wrong hands. Robust safeguards must be in place to ensure that regulatory compliance, such as GDPR, is adhered to in order to protect patient privacy and prevent unauthorised breaches or data leaks. Data protocols must also be in place to avoid unauthorised use.
- Troubleshooting: downtime is lost time in a life sciences organisation, and when minutes count it’s essential that IT services can provide a rapid response to issues that can literally affect lives. IT support staff ensure that critical systems are kept running, resolve technical issues and minimise crucial downtime.
AI and robotics offers the life science industries a range of advantages including eliminating human error, its 24/7 availability, its ability to make informed and unbiased decisions, its potential to reduce costs, its readiness to undertake repetitive tasks and its aptitude for data acquisition and analysis. However, for these functions to work and maintain the seamless infrastructure that enables life science companies to make life-changing discoveries the IT professionals behind it all must be dedicated, knowledgeable and of the highest calibre playing a crucial role in ensuring scalability and security.
For expert advice on attracting and retaining the best talent, contact us at nufuture.