#GreenInnovationForum | “It is a key platform to showcase how biotechnology can be an essential tool in the transition towards a more sustainable and carbon-neutral economic model.”

Organized by AseBio, the Spanish Association of Biotechnology Companies, and the Government of Navarra through Sodena, the Navarre Development Society, the Green Innovation Forum will bring together over 300 professionals on November 19 in Pamplona to discuss the opportunities biotechnology offers as a key tool in the transition to a more sustainable, carbon-neutral, and greener economic model.

The Green Innovation Forum 2024 provides a unique meeting point with leading Spanish and international companies and research institutions in the field of green biotechnology. We learn more about this landmark event from Ángel Antelo Domínguez, LCMS Specialist at Agilent, Silver Sponsor.

AseBio. What is Agilent?

Angel Antelo: Agilent Technologies is a biotechnology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, that provides instruments, software, services, and consumables for laboratories. Agilent has a long history of innovation and leadership in the industries of communications, electronics, semiconductors, testing and measurement, and chemical analysis, supporting scientists in cutting-edge research in life sciences, patient diagnostics, and analyses needed to ensure the safety of water, food, and pharmaceuticals.

Agilent offers solutions that enable users to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical, chemical, and biological properties of substances and products. From food and environmental quality control to monitoring active pharmaceutical ingredients for oligo-based therapies, Agilent supports clinical and life sciences research to examine samples and obtain insights at the cellular and molecular levels.

AseBio. You work in six key areas where you help your clients achieve their goals. What are these?

Angel Antelo: Agilent is focused on six key areas, often connected and interrelated.

• Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
  Agilent offers one of the most comprehensive solution portfolios in the pharmaceutical market and the biotechnology industry. Our solutions provide precise answers for every segment of the pharmaceutical industry, from disease research and new drug discovery to drug development, manufacturing, and quality control. This comprehensive suite of solutions helps client companies bring products to market faster.
• Diagnostics and Clinical
  Agilent provides physicians with an edge in the fight against cancer and other diseases. Our solutions help pathology labs deliver fast and accurate information to doctors and hospitals. We also assist medical teams in making more precise diagnoses, ensuring patients receive the most effective therapies.
• Food
  Agilent ensures the global food supply is free from contaminants, whether chemical, bacterial, or microbial. Our client base includes government agencies and laboratories overseeing food safety, as well as private companies that produce and sell food to the public.
• Environment
  From pesticides to pharmaceutical residues, we offer fast, precise, and sensitive methods for monitoring contaminants that affect quality of life. Agilent’s solutions also play a vital role in law enforcement, providing robust tools and instruments to analyze contaminants at levels required by national or international regulations.
• Chemistry and Energy
  Energy companies need to locate, extract, and refine fuels efficiently and cost-effectively. Our solutions help these companies maximize production and predict failures in refineries before they occur. Agilent also supports research in biofuels, renewable fuels, and other forms of alternative energy.
• Academia and Government
  Most research is conducted at leading universities, funded by governments worldwide. Agilent helps the scientific community learn more about cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and other conditions. Our instruments, software, and products enable faster, better, and more precise research, often with integrated “multi-omics” biology (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics).

AseBio. What are the main challenges Agilent faces in developing solutions across such diverse areas as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals?

Angel Antelo: Some of the main challenges include the need for continuous innovation. Staying at the forefront of technology is crucial and always a challenge. Agilent invests in research and development to constantly innovate and meet the changing demands of its customers.
Building strong customer relationships is essential. We always strive to provide the highest quality products and excellence in customer service.
Sustainability and waste management are significant challenges in any industry, from pharmaceuticals to chemicals. Laboratories generate a considerable amount of waste, including hazardous materials, which can have severe environmental impacts. Comprehensive waste control, reduced emissions, and increased environmental awareness are among the biggest challenges biotechnology companies face today.

AseBio. What strategies do you use to maintain effective synergy between software, hardware, and services, ensuring compatibility among these components in laboratory solutions?

Angel Antelo: Agilent Technologies approaches its work from a global perspective on the production chain. The ability to offer software, hardware, and training, repair, and maintenance services positions us advantageously for the synergistic development of all our products.

Agilent develops integrated software and hardware solutions. The Agilent digital laboratory ecosystem, which includes OpenLab Software and CrossLab Connect Digital Services, provides a unified platform that integrates software, hardware, and services. This ecosystem is designed to maximize lab efficiency and ensure seamless operation. It includes software solutions for managing instrument access, sample processing, and inventory management.

The company maintains ongoing updates and support through service contracts that include regular updates and technical assistance. This ensures software remains up-to-date and fully compatible with existing hardware.

We provide training and consulting to clients to maximize product utilization. This includes online courses, on-site training, or classes at Agilent facilities, covering everything from basic operations to advanced techniques.

Another key focus is Agilent’s efforts in automation and robotics, as well as implementing AI and machine learning to streamline analytical tasks. The company develops automated solutions that ensure regulatory compliance while improving laboratory efficiency and accuracy, helping to reduce manual errors and enhance component compatibility.

AseBio. What role does sustainability play in Agilent’s work?

Angel Antelo: Sustainability is a core component of Agilent Technologies’ operations and strategies. The company strives to integrate sustainable practices across all aspects of its business, from product development to daily operations.

Agilent addresses sustainability by reducing emissions and energy consumption. We’ve implemented measures to lower our carbon footprint, such as using renewable energy in production facilities and installing photovoltaic panels.
We develop products that not only meet high-quality standards but are also more sustainable. This includes instruments that consume less energy and generate less waste.

Our products are certified with the My Green Lab ACT label, indicating environmentally friendly design and operation. We also have a significant instrument recycling and refurbishment program.

Agilent participates in corporate social responsibility initiatives, supporting STEM education and promoting diversity and an inclusive workplace. These efforts reflect Agilent’s commitment to sustainability and its positive contributions to the environment and society.

AseBio. What is Agilent’s primary goal in sponsoring the Green Innovation Forum 2024?

Angel Antelo: Agilent Technologies’ primary goal in sponsoring the Green Innovation Forum 2024 is to promote sustainability and innovation in biotechnology. This forum serves as a key platform to demonstrate how biotechnology can be an essential tool in the transition towards a more sustainable and carbon-neutral economic model.

By sponsoring this event, Agilent aims to promote and provide visibility to the Spanish and European biotechnology industry while supporting the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the European Green Deal.