ISCT 2026

Smart manufacturing involves bringing together developers, equipment providers, and suppliers to break down silos, reduce development time, and create efficiencies that align products and solutions with customer needs. Leading companies have pioneered such system-based thinking across a variety of industries, including automobiles (Toyota), technology (Nvidia), and biotechnology (Eli Lilly & Co). Lilly has been at the forefront of this shift, leveraging open innovation models to identify new drug candidates, scout teams to pursue new opportunities, and establish outsourcing partnerships to strategically support its business.

VitaCyte’s vision is to develop and manufacture the highest quality Clostridium histolyticum collagenases and associated proteases used for recovering cells from tissue or after in vitro culture. In 2026, the company launched VitaCyte Solutions – an application and development lab – to bring together VitaCyte’s subject matter experts and scientists from instrument providers to create new enzyme-mediated cell recovery solutions for different applications. Colocation of development activities and convening experts enables systems thinking and knowledge sharing to optimize new products and services.

The specific details of VitaCyte Solutions will be shared during the presentation.

Session Objectives:

• Share VitaCyte’s capabilities to manufacture purified, customized collagenase or protease enzyme mixtures with other firms who may be interested in establishing collaborative projects
• Colocalization of experts with complementary skills leads to development of targeted products in a shorter time and a lower cost than traditional R&D
• Co-localization of experts focused on a defined problem is the most efficient method for product development (e.g., Lockheed skunkworks)