By Jonathan Gross, Group Chief Product Officer, Titian and Labguru

This year’s Bio-IT World wasn’t just about algorithms or the next-gen tech stack. It was about urgency.

I walked away with a deep impression from the Insilico Medicine talk given by Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO. Their AI-driven approach to drug discovery isn’t just innovative — it’s necessary. In a world where cycles are getting shorter, costs are rising, and pressure is mounting, Insilico felt like a preview of what biotech must become: lean, intelligent, and relentlessly data-driven.

But it’s not just about the science.

We’re entering a phase of global economic tension that will directly affect biotech’s operational future. As Trump re-enters the political spotlight, so do his policies—including a return to tariffs and protectionist measures. We may be on the brink of a new kind of tax war — one that pits innovation against inflation, and globalization against national self-interest.

These policies are no longer abstract—they’re budget line items, supply chain bottlenecks, and hiring freezes. They’re also a call to action.

In this landscape, AI isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s survival. It’s about doing more with less—fewer experiments, more insights; fewer wasted cycles, and more predictive modeling. 

Smart lab operations powered by AI can shield companies from economic turbulence and position them to lead where others can only react.

Bio-IT World made it clear: The next frontier isn’t just technological. It’s strategic. Companies that use AI to optimize their resources, reduce costs, and accelerate time to value will be the ones that thrive—regardless of which way the political winds blow.