The AFI Symposium 2025, a reference point for pharmaceutical and industrial research, is dedicating its 8th session to the theme of digital innovation in research, development, and management of special productions.
On Thursday, June 12, starting at 9:00 AM, in the evocative setting of the Sala dell’Arco, internationally renowned experts will explore the new frontiers of digital technologies, with a focus on oral medications, radiopharmaceuticals, and medical gases. Three seemingly distant fields, but in reality, united by common challenges and opportunities.
The meeting will be moderated by Floriana Raso, coordinator of AFI’s Special Production group. “These are very different sectors,” Raso emphasized, “but this diversity itself represents an opportunity: we can discover synergies and cross-applications that enhance innovation.” The goal is precisely to foster dialogue between disciplines and technologies that can open up new scenarios in the pharmaceutical landscape.
The session will open with an in-depth look at research and development of oral drugs, the beating heart of special productions.
Giorgio Cappellucci, representing SIFIT, will present a talk on computational techniques applied to the study of medicinal plants. A topic that connects the millennia-old tradition of phytotherapy with cutting-edge digital advances, in a context where simulation and data analysis can accelerate the discovery and optimization of active molecules.
The international scope of the session expands with the presence of Jean-Luc Volfender from the University of Geneva, an expert in innovative techniques for drug discovery. Volfender will share the experience of a pioneering laboratory that aims to integrate traditional methods and digital tools to develop new drugs from natural substances. In this context, digitalization is not just a support—it becomes a driver for sustainability and personalization of therapies.
Next, the focus will shift to a continually evolving sector: radiopharmaceuticals. With the presentation by Jan Volber of GE HealthCare Pharmaceutical Diagnostics UK, the opportunities offered by digital technologies for the production and management of highly specialized drugs will be explored. From advanced diagnostic systems to the use of artificial intelligence to optimize processes and timelines, radiopharmaceuticals represent a field where digital innovation directly translates into clinical precision and greater patient safety.
The common thread of the entire session will be the ability to systematize skills and technologies. Digital innovation, in fact, offers tools that can reduce development times, improve product quality, and ensure more sustainable resource management. But it also poses challenges: from regulatory compliance to the critical issues related to staff training, to the need to rethink traditional production models.
In this scenario, the exchange of expertise becomes essential. The 8th session of the AFI Symposium 2025 aims to be precisely a place of dialogue and positive cross-pollination, where established experiences meet the enthusiasm of research and innovation. “We believe that the variety of perspectives is the key to building a more resilient and sustainable future,” Raso reiterated.
The planned presentations will highlight concrete cases and collaboration models that can inspire new practices and visions. From research labs to production floors, from universities to large multinationals, the 8th session of the AFI Symposium 2025 sets itself up as a meeting and launching point for a profound and shared transformation.
In a historical moment when personalized care and sustainability are increasingly central, digital innovation in special productions plays a strategic role.
Thus, the event represents a valuable opportunity not only to stay up to date on the latest technological developments, but also to reflect on the role of digital innovation as a strategic lever. In a sector like pharmaceuticals, where quality and safety can never be compromised, digitalization becomes a cultural challenge even before a technical one.
Want to know more? Listen to Floriana Raso’s talk: