Bridging the gap: How knowledge graphs are driving a new era for pharmaceutical manufacturing
The CMAC Data Lab is entering a transformative era in drug development and manufacturing. As part of CMAC’s commitment to innovation and research excellence, we’ve integrated cutting-edge Knowledge Graph software from Plvs Ultra into our research facility. This milestone is supported by an £11 million capital award within a £33 million UKRPIF partnership and forms a key part of our strategy to revolutionise how medicines are designed, developed, and manufactured.
By combining advanced digital, automation and characterisation tools, we are building a cyber-physical architecture that supports the Industry 5.0 goals of sustainable, resilient, and human-centred pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Revolutionising the research ecosystem
The CMAC Data Lab is set to support a critical mass of new research, fundamentally changing the way we approach Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) processes. This work is driving the evolution of Quality by Digital Design (QbDD). Our transformation will be driven by:
FAIR Data and Digital Infrastructure: We are establishing a unique, flexible data architecture and ontologies that connect all equipment and data sources with computational tasks and users. This will create a system-wide multiscale digital twin for materials, equipment, processes, and products.
Intelligent, Cyber-Physical CMC DataFactories™: By connecting cobots and people with model-driven experimental design, real-time digital twins and AI-driven optimisation, we are creating a seamless integration of physical and digital worlds.
Advanced Measurement Instrumentation: This will reveal multilength-scale functional material characteristics, providing deeper insights into material properties.
MicroFactories: Our flexible, modular test beds will enable intensive, sustainable, and adaptable advanced processing across drug substance and drug product production.
These advancements will establish a unique data centre that informs scientific breakthroughs and delivers a comprehensive predictive toolbox for digital transformation of CMC.
Why Plvs Ultra's knowledge graph software?
Modern drug development faces numerous challenges, from siloed, complex data management to ensuring efficient and effective manufacturing processes and controls. Plvs Ultra, a UK-based SME, has developed innovative software that addresses these challenges head-on. This major investment will enable us to implement FAIR principles for modern data-driven applications in research as well as build new semantic tools that make our data more usable and accessible.
A collaborative effort
Our partnership with Plvs Ultra was facilitated through Scottish Government protocols and has been instrumental in bringing the software into our facility, enabling us to harness its full potential. The integration of this software is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and the importance of investing in cutting-edge technologies to empower our researchers.
“Graph technology empowers the pharmaceutical industry to navigate complex data by enabling flexible traversal and integration of diverse datasets. By leveraging Knowledge Graphs, pharma can combine metadata with data, improving reusability and managing the intricate relationships and variability inherent in medicine manufacturing and research.”
The impact on CMAC Data Lab
The addition of Plvs Ultra's software presents enhanced capability within our research centre, showcasing the impact of our strategic capital investments. It aligns with our strategy to leverage digital technologies, such as Quality by Digital Design, to refine and improve CMC processes. This integration positions us as a leader in the digitalisation of drug development and manufacturing.
Looking ahead
We are excited to be one of the first demonstrators of this technology in the pharmaceutical manufacturing research area. Over the coming year, CMAC teams will be actively implementing and exploring the capabilities of Plvs Ultra’s knowledge graph software across our newly launched research portfolio.
If you're curious to see how this collaboration is shaping the future of medicines development, manufacture, and supply, join us at the CMAC Open Days from 24–26 March 2026. The CMAC Data Lab will be showcasing our progress and the transformative potential of this technology.
For more information on CMAC, our capabilities and to register interest in our event, visit our website.