Sartorius and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) are joining forces to establish what they describe as the world’s most comprehensive training center for intensified and fully continuous bioprocessing.

 

Set to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, the Process Intensification Training Center in Dublin will provide hands-on training and knowledge-sharing for the biopharmaceutical industry as manufacturers accelerate the shift toward intensified, digitalized and continuous production.

 

At the heart of the new facility will be Sartorius’ Pionic technology, an end-to-end modular cGMP platform designed for integrated continuous bioprocessing, advanced analytics and digital tools. NIBRT will use the platform to train more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and students each year in intensified upstream and downstream processes focused on efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.

 

“As biopharma manufacturing undergoes a major shift from batch processes toward more efficient, continuous processes, Sartorius is once again at the forefront of this transformation. While technological innovation is the first step, training current and future engineers and operators is critical to making the change a reality,” said René Fáber, Head of the Bioprocess Solutions Division and Member of the Executive Board at Sartorius. 

 

“Our partnership with NIBRT underscores Sartorius’ commitment to building global capabilities and accelerating the adoption of innovative and sustainable bioprocessing technologies.”

 

NIBRT CEO Darrin Morrissey said the partnership will strengthen workforce capabilities as the industry moves toward more connected and intensified manufacturing.

 

“This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing workforce training and supporting the transition toward intensified and connected manufacturing,” said Darrin Morrissey, CEO of NIBRT. “By integrating the Pionic platform into our training facility, we will give biopharma professionals the chance to gain first-hand experience with cutting-edge technologies that drive process efficiency and performance.”

 

The new center will become a key part of NIBRT’s global training and education network, supporting industry professionals and academic partners across Ireland, Europe and beyond.

 

The facility will go beyond workforce training. It is also expected to support collaborative research and pilot-scale demonstrations, giving companies and academic partners a platform to test and advance continuous biomanufacturing approaches.

 

The partnership comes as the biopharmaceutical sector increasingly explores continuous and intensified manufacturing as alternatives to traditional batch-based production, placing workforce skills and access to industrial-scale technologies at the center of the transition.