Smart Tanks Set a New Pace in Biopharma

AI tools from Quartic and TAPI lift biopharma output and reliability as early adopters gain a competitive edge

21 Nov 2025

Biopharma manufacturers are beginning to use artificial intelligence to manage fermentation, a core step in producing vaccines and other biologic drugs. The move brings real-time monitoring and automatic adjustments to processes that have long relied on delayed lab results and manual changes.

Several US and international facilities have introduced digital fermentation systems from Quartic and TAPI in recent months. Companies using Quartic report efficiency gains of about 10 per cent, citing software that checks data each second and identifies early signs of process drift. A European site using TAPI technology has recorded improvements of roughly 15 per cent as its system alters conditions during production runs to keep batches within target ranges.

The adoption comes as the sector faces rising demand and expanding pipelines. Manufacturers often struggle when scaling up from development to commercial volumes, in part because fermentation can be unpredictable. AI systems are positioned as a way to stabilise output by offering clearer insight into tank conditions and reducing reliance on operator judgement.

The shift fits a broader move toward data-led manufacturing across the life sciences industry. Producers are forming partnerships with software groups, upgrading older equipment and seeking new digital collaborations that can boost reliability without large capital projects. Analysts expect more alliances between technology providers and established manufacturers as early performance data becomes more visible.

Challenges remain. Automated systems must provide clear explanations of their decisions to meet regulatory expectations, and many facilities will need stronger data networks before they can support continuous monitoring. But early adopters report that the operational gains exceed the cost and effort of implementation.

For an industry focused on consistency and speed, AI-supported fermentation offers a path to more stable production. It signals a manufacturing model in which equipment can report its own needs and maintain output from early growth phases to final filling.