A strategic R&D milestone strengthening Dipharma’s capabilities in automation and sustainable process development
Dipharma Francis announces a significant milestone achieved within the GREEN-TECH project, a strategic R&D initiative supported by the Regione Lombardia (Italy) under the first edition of the “Collabora & Innova” program. The project aims to develop innovative and sustainable technologies for the chemical-pharmaceutical industry, with a particular focus on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and advanced manufacturing processes.
Within this framework, Dipharma’s R&D team has successfully developed and implemented an advanced skid for testing continuous flow processes, including gas-liquid reactions. The tool is equipped with a dedicated control system enabled to perform complete data acquisition and processing. The system is designed to support next-generation applications, including gas-liquid reactions in continuous flow, further expanding the technological capabilities of modern API manufacturing.
The new equipment has been installed at Dipharma’s R&D centre at its headquarters in Baranzate (Milan) and further developments are planned at the pilot plant in the Caronno Pertusella facility. These installations strengthen the company’s capabilities in process development, optimization and scale-up, supporting a more integrated approach between laboratory and industrial environments.
By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, the newly developed systems will enable the creation of predictive models based on experimental and industrial data. The acquired data will be analysed to develop an optimization tool to continuously improve the process performances. This approach will support the optimisation of process parameters, improving yields, product quality and overall efficiency, while reducing development timelines, costs and environmental impact.
GREEN-TECH is a collaborative project, started in May 2025, involving a partnership of industrial companies, together with the University of Milan and the University of Insubria.
The project brings together large industrial companies, SMEs and leading research organizations, combining complementary expertise to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies such as flow chemistry, biocatalysis and AI-driven process optimization, in line with the principles of green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing.
While rooted in a regional funding initiative, GREEN-TECH reflects a broader international ambition: to strengthen the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable global supply chain.
More information about the Green-Tech project is available at the following links:
For more information:
Paola Clerici
Communication Manager
Dipharma Francis S.r.l.
paola.clerici@dipharma.com
