27-08-2026 | Posted by Principia
Every experiment generates data, results and observations that can contribute to the development of a new material, medicine or product. However, this knowledge is not always fully exploited. Part of it remains scattered across laboratory notebooks, spreadsheets, reports, instruments and applications that do not share information.
The problem is not solely about storing data. It is also necessary to link, interpret and make it available to the teams involved in the different stages of development. When this does not happen, the risk of repeating trials, working with outdated information or losing accumulated knowledge increases.
BIOVIA, by Dassault Systèmes, provides a collaborative scientific environment to connect research, experimentation, data analysis, quality and manufacturing. In this way, information can accompany the product from the initial virtual models through to its industrialisation.
A laboratory may use different systems to manage its activities: electronic notebooks, measuring instruments, databases, simulation applications or sample control tools. Each serves a purpose, but the lack of connection between them can fragment scientific knowledge.
This situation has practical consequences. Researchers spend time locating and reorganising information, some results are difficult to reproduce, and data transfer between R&D, quality and production relies on manual processes. Different versions of the same formulation, specification or procedure may also coexist.
Fragmentation is particularly problematic as the product progresses to later stages. The quality team needs to know which tests were carried out and under what conditions, production must have approved procedures at their disposal, and regulatory managers require traceable data to justify the decisions made.
Digitalising scientific innovation does not simply mean replacing paper with electronic files. The real objective is to create a continuous flow where every experiment contributes to an accessible, structured and reusable knowledge base, in line with the FAIR principles for scientific data management.
BIOVIA is the Dassault Systèmes brand focused on scientific research and the development of biology-, chemistry- and materials science-based products. Its solutions span from molecular modelling and simulation to laboratory management, data analysis, quality and manufacturing.
It is an ecosystem of specialised solutions that allows for work with different types of scientific information within a common environment.
Its integration with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform facilitates collaboration between people, processes and disciplines. The data obtained during research can be linked to decisions made during development and, subsequently, to the specifications, procedures and controls used to manufacture the product.
BIOVIA brings the scientific, chemical and molecular dimension to 3DEXPERIENCE. Other Dassault Systèmes solutions allow this journey to continue into design, higher-scale simulation, product management or manufacturing. This connection is particularly relevant when the molecular composition or structure of a material dictates its mechanical, thermal, electrical or chemical properties and, consequently, the behaviour of the final product.
The scope of BIOVIA depends on the sector and the needs of each organisation, but its contribution can be understood through a journey that begins with virtual exploration and continues through to quality and manufacturing.
| Stage | Need | BIOVIA’s Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual exploration | Compare molecules, materials or formulations | Modelling, simulation and property prediction |
| Experimentation | Plan trials and record results | Management of protocols, samples, equipment and data |
| Analysis | Convert scattered data into useful information | Automation, advanced analytics and scientific AI |
| Development | Select and optimise alternatives | Comparison of results and reutilisation of knowledge |
| Quality and manufacturing | Transfer information without losing traceability | Connection of specifications, procedures and controls |
Before starting an experimental campaign, researchers can use modelling and simulation to study chemical structures, materials or biological systems. This makes it possible to compare candidates, predict certain properties and select the alternatives that show the greatest potential.
Simulation does not eliminate physical experimentation, but it helps guide it. Instead of indiscriminately testing all possibilities, the laboratory can focus its resources on the most promising options. Experimental results, in turn, serve to validate and improve virtual models.
During trial execution, BIOVIA allows for the documentation of protocols, samples, conditions, equipment, observations and results. It preserves not only the final data point but also the context needed to understand how it was obtained and to reproduce it.
Subsequently, information from experiments, instruments and simulations can be integrated and analysed together. Automating processing tasks and applying advanced analytics help identify relationships, compare results and support the selection of materials, molecules or formulations.
When development transitions to quality and production, the data can remain linked to specifications, approved procedures and acceptance criteria. The knowledge generated in the laboratory thus continues to be useful as the product moves towards its industrialisation.
The BIOVIA portfolio brings together specialised applications for the different stages of scientific innovation. Some focus on the virtual design of molecules and materials; others on laboratory management, data analysis or the transfer of knowledge to quality and manufacturing.
| Solution | Primary Function | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 3DEXPERIENCE BIOVIA | Connect scientific data, processes and teams | Research, development, quality and manufacturing |
| Materials Studio | Modelling and simulation of materials at atomic and molecular scale | Polymers, catalysts, electrolytes, metals and composite materials |
| Discovery Studio Simulation | Molecular modelling for life sciences | Drugs, proteins, antibodies and molecular interactions |
| Generative Therapeutics Design | Design of therapeutic candidates using generative AI and modelling | Drug discovery and optimisation |
| ONE Lab | Digitalisation of experiments, samples, procedures, equipment and inventories | ELN, LIMS, LES and laboratory management |
| Pipeline Pilot | Automated integration, transformation and analysis of data | Scientific analytics, machine learning and AI |
| Formulation Design | Design and optimisation of formulations and recipes | Food, cosmetics, chemicals and consumer goods |
| COSMO-RS | Prediction of thermodynamic properties of fluids and mixtures | Solubility, phase equilibrium, solvents and formulations |
| Scientific AI | Artificial intelligence applied to scientific challenges | Molecular design, formulation and materials |
| Quality Management, Regulatory Management and Discoverant | Connecting R&D with quality, regulation and production | Traceability, documentation and manufacturing analysis |
Among the simulation-oriented solutions, BIOVIA Materials Studio enables the analysis of the relationship between a material’s atomic or molecular structure and its properties. BIOVIA Discovery Studio Simulation applies molecular modelling to life sciences, while Generative Therapeutics Design combines generative artificial intelligence and physics-based models to explore therapeutic candidates.
BIOVIA ONE Lab brings together the core capabilities to digitalise daily laboratory activity. It includes electronic notebooks, sample and task management, guided procedure execution, and equipment and inventory control. Pipeline Pilot, for its part, allows the creation of workflows to integrate, transform and analyse scientific data.
In the field of formulations, Formulation Design helps compare formulas and recipes, taking into account properties, constraints and experimental results. COSMO-RS enables the prediction of thermodynamic properties of fluids and mixtures based on molecular information.
These solutions can be used independently or connected according to each organisation’s needs. Their collective value lies in preventing information from becoming siloed within a single application or development stage.
BIOVIA’s capabilities can be applied across highly diverse industries. In the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, they help research molecules, proteins and therapeutic candidates. In chemistry and materials science, they allow for the study of polymers, catalysts, electrolytes and other advanced structures.
In food, cosmetics and consumer goods, they can be used to manage formulations, specifications and product requirements. In energy and mobility, molecular simulation contributes to the development of materials for batteries, fuel cells and other storage technologies.
The common denominator is the need to turn scattered scientific data into useful knowledge. Modelling and the reuse of results allow for better selection of physical trials; structured experiment management improves reproducibility; and the connection to quality and manufacturing reduces manual transcriptions and version discrepancies.
Thus, BIOVIA ensures that every project does not have to start from scratch. Previous results can be retrieved, compared and reused to guide new developments, while the relationship between data and decisions remains available to other teams.
A digital laboratory is not defined simply by the absence of paper. Its true value emerges when every model, experiment and result can be located, understood and reused.
BIOVIA makes it possible to connect scientific simulation with experimentation, data analysis, quality and manufacturing. In this way, knowledge accompanies the product throughout its development and is not confined to the team or system that generated it.
At Principia, we help organisations analyse how BIOVIA solutions and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can be integrated into their research, development and innovation processes. If you want to connect the data, tools and teams involved in your product development, contact us and we will study your organisation’s needs.
