EUROLAB and TIC Council Joint Webinar 'The lab of the future and future of labs'

On 26 October, TIC Council and EUROLAB hosted a joint-webinar entitled ‘The lab of the future and the future of labs’, dedicated to exploring the changes that laboratories are currently facing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the technological developments that are exponentially changing the landscape.

As new technologies and rapidly-developing innovations are being introduced at a steady pace, it is of vital importance for laboratories to constantly stay informed about the latest transformations in the sector, the new perspectives that these will bring, and how laboratories can adapt and thrive in this new environment. In particular, the outbreak of COVID-19 has accelerated the growing logistical changes laboratories must conduct to adapt to the digital world. As a result, labs are facing pressing organisational strains in adapting their work to the fast-changing labs ecosystems – being it normative or technological. Laboratories must face and adapt to various challenges such as:

1. Regulations and standards
2. Outsourcing
3. Globalization
4. Product variety and short life cycles
5. Safety and quality control
6. Growing consumer income

To promote the valuable service of accreditation by qualified and competent organizations, this virtual panel brought together speakers from the TIC industry in both Europe and U.S, the European Commission and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), all of whom shared dedicated expertise and knowledge in addressing the current environment within the sector, amid the COVID pandemic.

The panel was moderated by Hanane Taidi, TIC Council Director General and included the following speakers and subjects:

• Etty Feller, ILAC Chair - Introduction to the concept of “Lab of the future”, current changes at ILAC level and support given to laboratories, the impact of COVID-19 on remote assessments, the recognition of laboratories.
• Heinz Wilkening, European Commission, DG JRC Joint Research Centre: Smart Labs – interoperability testing methodology
• Eric Roman, President & CEO at Pace Analytical Services LLC - A US perspective on the main issues laboratories are facing in the US and the opportunities the future holds
• Álvaro Silva Ribeiro, EUROLAB President – The impact of COVID-19 on the EU Laboratories. An EU perspective on the Lab of the future and how can it best adapt to the upcoming challenges while grabbing the new technological opportunities offered.
• Betina Monika Jahn, Head of Innovative Product Management, SGS Germany GmbH: Remote Auditing - practical learnings & a glimpse of the future.

The successful webinar had a great turnout of 230 participants, representing the wider sector of lab testing and accreditation. Both TIC Council and EUROLAB highly appreciate all the positive response from the attendees.

The presentation of the webinar can be found here.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Laura

Laura Martin

International Affairs Manager