FUTURE | Developing the industrial processes of tomorrow

Accelerating the adoption of continuous production processes in the chemical and life sciences sectors 

How can industrial processes become more flexible, efficient, and resource-efficient? The FUTURE project (Factory Upgrading Through Unified Resources & Engineering) supports Walloon companies in evaluating, developing, and adopting new production approaches. It brings together the complementary expertise of Sirris, Certech,and CER Groupe.

By combining continuous processing, chemical engineering, biocatalysis, biotechnology, and digital tools, FUTURE explores more sustainable, efficient and competitive production approaches. Its aim is to give companies, particularly SMEs, access to expertise and integrated infrastructure to test these technologies before investing in their industrial deployment. 
 

Target group

FUTURE primarily targets Walloon companies operating in the following sectors:

• Fine and speciality chemicals
• Industrial biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and biopharmaceuticals
• Food and food ingredients, including functional ingredients
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Providers of process technologies, instrumentation, automation, and digital solutions will also be able to benefit from developments made within the project. 

Context

The chemical and life sciences industries face several challenges. They need to strengthen their competitiveness, optimise resource use, and reduce their environmental footprint. They must also ensure product quality and production safety while meeting strict regulatory requirements. The green transition and concerns about industrial sovereignty are making these needs even more pressing. Companies are looking for more flexible and robust processes that can adapt to changing market conditions.

Process intensification and continuous production offer new opportunities to improve industrial performance. These approaches improve process control, reproducibility, and raw material utilisation. They also make it easier to adapt production to demand. Combined with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and digital tools, they enable better real-time monitoring and control of operations. This helps improve product quality, reduce losses, and enhance process safety.

However, adopting these approaches remains complex. Companies need to select and size suitable technologies, integrate equipment data, and demonstrate the feasibility of proposed solutions. Wallonia also lacks integrated infrastructure for testing these technologies and supporting their adoption. 
 

Objectives & results

FUTURE aims to facilitate the adoption of continuous production processes by combining complementary expertise, proven methodologies, and shared demonstration infrastructure.

The project aims to:

• Develop transferable methods for designing and evaluating processes, making it easier to move from batch to continuous production
• Integrate sensors and online analytical technologies (PAT) to monitor critical process parameters, reaction progress and product quality in real time
• Use the data generated to develop models and digital twins for process control, optimisation, and decision support
• Build a modular demonstrator integrating the different technologies deployed within the project
• Provide companies with guides, protocols and decision-support tools to facilitate the transition from laboratory to industrial application

Key expected results

• Transferable methods for designing, evaluating, and optimising continuous processes
• Online analysis and monitoring solutions to improve process control and product quality
• An open digital infrastructure to connect equipment, structure data, and facilitate its use
• Digital models and tools to optimise processes and support decision-making
• A modular experimental demonstrator integrating the technologies developed within the project
• Guides, protocols, and methodological support to help companies adopt these technologies

The demonstrator will be evaluated through a case study involving the production of galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) prebiotics from lactose, comparing chemical, and enzymatic routes. This case study will validate the integrated approach developed within FUTURE and assess its transferability to other products, processes, and industrial sectors. 
 

Approach

Sirris, Certech, and CER Groupe combine their expertise to develop and evaluate integrated production solutions. Their work is organised into four stages.

1. Design the processes
   The partners study reactions, and select and optimise catalysts and biocatalysts. They develop continuous reactors suited to reaction constraints and requirements for quality, safety and scale-up.
2. Measure and understand
   They deploy analytical methods and online monitoring tools. These solutions link operating conditions to process performance and the characteristics of the final product.
3. Connect and use data
   The partners integrate equipment and sensors, then structure the data generated. They develop digital tools for monitoring, modelling, and decision support.
4. Demonstrate and transfer
   The technologies are evaluated on a representative modular experimental platform. This stage demonstrates their relevance, assesses their transferability, and helps companies adopt them. 
    

Funding

• Call: Win4Synergy
• Funding body: Public Service of Wallonia
• Budget: €2,082,394
• Agreement number: 2610009