Finding experienced engineers is still a challenge for the biopharmaceutical industry, according to analysis by Ireland’s National Institute for Bioprocess Research and Training (NIBRT), which suggests technicians with digital manufacturing skills are in short supply.
NIBRT detailed the shortages in a report that looked at the evolution of the biopharmaceutical industry’s skills base over the past 12 months.
Killian O’Driscoll, NIBRT chief commercial officer, tells GEN, “There continues to be a global shortage in biopharmaceutical manufacturing skills. This shortage is across all areas of operations from cell culture, downstream processing, aseptic manufacturing, quality functions, etcetera.”
Experience combining digital bioprocessing systems is particularly hard to find, according to O’Driscoll, who cites the burgeoning cell and gene therapy industries as examples of where such skills are in short supply.
“There is a particular demand for specialist engineering positions, for example, automation engineers who have a strong background in biopharma aligned with digital and process control experience.
“Another area of high demand is manufacturing, sciences, and technologies (MSAT) roles, especially with respect to process development of advanced medicines such as cell and gene therapies.”
Demand for engineers with experience using artificial intelligence (AI) in process automation is also increasing, according to NIBRT’s analysis, which suggests more drug companies are looking to use such technologies to optimize their operations.
O’Driscoll says, “The demand for automation expertise coupled with biopharma manufacturing experience continues to increase.
“Assessment and deployment of AI technologies is also a growing, if still somewhat niche area, as organizations assess the use cases which are most suitable to create demonstrable return-on-investment.”
Training programs
In a bid to address the skills shortages—and maintain Ireland’s competitiveness as a drug manufacturing hub—NIBRT has partnered with various companies to develop tailored workforce training programs.
Last year, for example, it teamed with Spanish healthcare company Grifols to develop a program focused on aseptic processing, audit readiness, and advanced sterile drug product production at the firm’s fill-finish site in Dublin.
NIBRT has also worked with Bristol Myers Squibb on a training program for the latter’s soon-to-be-expanded biologics production campus at Cruiserath, just outside the Irish capital.
And such efforts are working, according to O’Driscoll, who adds, “Ireland continues to be a very attractive location as companies value the policy stability, certainty, and manufacturing expertise which is critical to long-term supply chain and manufacturing network strategy.”
