From Automated High-Throughput Experimentation to Self-Driving Laboratories: The Swiss Cat⁺ Experience
Thursday June 26th at 11 am
Department of Chemistry of ENS, Salle R
24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris
Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques (ISIC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
Prof. Pascal Miéville
pascal.mieville@epfl.ch
The Swiss Cat⁺ West Hub at EPFL was initially established as an automated laboratory aimed at enabling high-throughput data-driven discovery of novel homogeneous catalysts. Over five years of iterative development, including technical implementation, operational challenges, and lessons learned, it became evident that automation alone was insufficient to fully realize this objective. In response, the project has undergone a strategic shift over the past two years toward the emerging framework of the self-driving laboratory (SDL), which integrates automation with algorithmic decision-making and adaptive experimentation. This presentation will provide an overview of the Swiss Cat⁺ project, highlighting key milestones and early challenges in developing an automated high-throughput experimentation (HTE) platform for organic synthesis. We will discuss the practical advantages and inherent limitations of automated HTE systems, as well as introduce recent efforts to incorporate SDL methodologies. Preliminary results from this transition will be shared, with a focus on the infrastructure, workflow adaptations, and algorithmic components currently under evaluation.
Pascal Miéville began his scientific career with training as a chemistry technician, followed by a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Geneva. He then worked for several years in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on the development of novel MRI contrast agents. He subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry at EPFL and earned a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Geoffrey Bodenhausen, specializing in hyperpolarized NMR spectroscopy. Following his doctoral studies, he managed the EPFL NMR Instrumental Platform. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Swiss Cat⁺ West Hub at EPFL and holds the position of Senior Research and Teaching Associate. In parallel, he is a part-time senior consultant at Bruker, where he advises on digital laboratory strategies and automation.