The DigInBio project “Digitalisierung in der industriellen Biotechnologie – Teilprojekt C” was carried out at the Institute for Technical Chemistry of Leibniz University Hannover from 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2023. The project was funded under the grant number 031B0463C and aimed to embed digital technologies into industrial biotechnology processes. The Institute’s contributions were organised into four work packages: AP 1 (central data management via a laboratory information management system, LIMS), AP 4 (demonstrator laboratory and digital workflow support), AP 5 (validation from raw material to product), and AP 6 (public relations and industry engagement).
A key technical outcome was the adoption of the SiLA 2.0 standard for device communication. The Institute became an active member of the SiLA 2 consortium, contributing to the C# implementation and extending it to Linux and ARM platforms. SiLA 2 drivers were developed and tested in real laboratory settings, including integration with Tecan equipment. The resulting SiLA 2 toolchain was containerised with Docker, creating an automated build‑test‑deploy cycle that simplified the deployment of drivers for the Periodic Counter‑Current Chromatography (PCC) system. The PCC was fully controlled via SiLA 2, with all components—valves, pumps, spectrometers, and light sources—addressable through a responsive web interface. Fluorescence measurement was added alongside UV detection, enabling simultaneous monitoring of both signals through 3‑in‑1 flow cuvettes, which improved process control and data richness.
The LIMS developed in AP 1 provided a unified platform for device integration, workflow creation, and data storage. Devices were accessed through SiLA 2 commands at the device layer, which exposed a RESTful interface to higher‑level software such as the Process Manager and Labfolder ELN. The architecture split responsibilities between a SiLA manager process and a web process that hosted the REST API, database, and a web dashboard. The dashboard displayed real‑time status, logs, and allowed operators to stop or restart drivers and machines, thereby enhancing troubleshooting efficiency.
AP 4 also delivered a gateway module that enabled legacy laboratory equipment lacking Ethernet or Wi‑Fi to join the digital infrastructure. The module was tested at partner sites in Jülich and Munich and incorporated QR‑code‑based sample registration and a web‑server interface for secure data transfer to an encrypted database. This gateway was successfully applied in a mobile SARS‑CoV‑2 testing station, demonstrating the transferability of digital analytics concepts to real‑world diagnostics.
Collaboration extended beyond the university. Industry partners such as Chr. Hansen, BASF, Sartorius, and Noack Laboratories were engaged through presentations, demonstrations, and joint workshops. The Institute also coordinated with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, ensuring alignment with broader digitalisation goals in life sciences. Throughout the five‑year period, the Institute hosted numerous seminars, webinars, and interviews with stakeholders, reinforcing the project’s outreach component.
In summary, the DigInBio subproject C delivered a robust, SiLA 2‑based digital laboratory ecosystem, a fully integrated LIMS, and a gateway for legacy equipment, all validated in both bioprocessing and diagnostic contexts. These technical achievements were complemented by extensive industry engagement and knowledge transfer, positioning the Institute as a key player in the digital transformation of industrial biotechnology.