SWITZERLAND – Roche’s Basel Drug Substance site in Switzerland has been honored with the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Lighthouse Award.
This recognition, announced on October 8, 2024, acknowledges the site’s leadership in leveraging advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing.
As the first Swiss site to receive this award, Roche’s achievement reflects its dedication to innovation, sustainability, and technological advancement. The award will be formally presented at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2025.
Global Lighthouse Network and its significance
Co-founded by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey, the Global Lighthouse Network is dedicated to exploring how 4IR technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data analytics—are reshaping modern production processes.
Organizations within this network are at the forefront of applying these technologies to enhance operational excellence, improve productivity, and foster environmental sustainability.
These Lighthouses serve as a benchmark for others, showcasing the impact of digital transformation on driving growth, resilience, and long-term value.
As of October 2024, the Global Lighthouse Network has grown to encompass 172 leading production facilities and value chains worldwide.
The latest cohort of 22 members, added since December 2023, includes facilities from 10 countries: China, the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, Switzerland, and Vietnam—marking the first recognition for Switzerland and Vietnam.
This diverse group shares a commitment to leveraging 4IR technologies to improve efficiency, sustainability, and workforce development across industries.
The organizations within the Global Lighthouse Network are proving that advanced technologies such as AI not only drive business value but also enhance environmental sustainability and workforce engagement.
At a time when companies face challenges in optimizing performance and addressing environmental and operational needs, the Lighthouses are leading the way by demonstrating how 4IR technologies can achieve comprehensive goals.
Roche’s achievement in digital transformation
Roche has made significant investments in AI and digital solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency in drug discovery and manufacturing.
Over the past three years, the company has modernized its technical infrastructure and integrated AI-driven processes across its global network.
This digital transformation has enabled Roche to reduce costs, shorten time-to-market for new drugs, and optimize its end-to-end processes.
Daniele Iacovelli, Roche’s Global Head of Pharma Technical Operations emphasized that integrating cutting-edge technology has been crucial in achieving the company’s bold goal of developing 20 new transformative medicines by 2030.
AI and digital tools have simplified processes, reduced manual intervention, and improved the quality of insights derived from data, ensuring Roche stays ahead in meeting patient needs.
Substantial efficiency gains and sustainability commitments
Roche’s adoption of AI and digital technologies has accelerated drug development by up to 70%, while reducing costs by 80% compared to industry standards.
These advancements have empowered Roche’s teams to enhance their expertise, delivering more precise and effective treatments.
By adopting a modular and flexible tech infrastructure, Roche fosters ongoing innovation while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability.
In today’s fast-evolving landscape, marked by technological advancements, geopolitical tensions, and the growing impacts of climate change, global supply chains face increasing vulnerabilities.
Companies within the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, like Roche, are addressing these challenges head-on by implementing state-of-the-art technologies to boost productivity and sustainability.
Leveraging AI and machine learning, Lighthouse members are revolutionizing their operations with impressive results across various advanced applications.
Notably, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, 85% of Lighthouse factories experienced a revenue loss of less than 10%, a stark contrast to the 14% of other manufacturers.
These Lighthouses are leading the charge toward a more sustainable and innovative future, demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can reshape the manufacturing landscape and address global challenges through lasting, transformative change.
