ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, is a worldwide organisation committed to advancing excellence in pharmaceutical engineering and its associated scientific fields. Founded in 1980, ISPE is committed to providing resources, information, and networking opportunities to professionals and businesses engaged in fields such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and life sciences.

The main objective of ISPE is to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and quality of medicines and related products, working closely with regulatory agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, and service providers. The organisation provides guidance, develops best practices, and promotes innovation in the industry, helping to improve people's lives through safe and effective pharmaceutical products. IIt also plays a significant role in shaping the legislation and directives governing the pharmaceutical industry, thereby contributing to keeping standards high in this crucial industry for public health.

Enzo Lacchini, chair of ISPE Italy Affiliate, explores the company’s mission and the partnership with Pharmintech.

How important is participating in a fair like Pharmintech for your association?

“I would say that visibility is the most important driver behind our participation in Pharmintech; since the 1990s, it has given exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to come into contact with ISPE in Italy, allowing them to learn about our mission and our commitment to transferring knowledge and maintaining awareness of key life science issues. The fair also enables us to achieve our mission, as already mentioned, through an in-show event that we usually organise.

We are confident that our participation in Pharmintech helps to increase our membership, which currently stands at around 600 members in Italy and 20,000+ worldwide".

What is your mission and what are the issues and new projects you are focusing on?  

“ISPE's mission is to consolidate its leadership as a global association that keeps the life science community up-to-date on technological innovations, operational excellence, and regulatory information, the combination of which allows us to develop, produce, and provide patients with increasingly effective and safe drugs. Our mission is bolstered by collaborations with other industry associations, with the Academy, and - finally - with organisers of trade fairs like Pharmintech.

The ongoing dialogue opened with regulatory authorities is another vital strength of ISPE.

Preparation of the new generation of industry experts is also part of our commitment and is achieved through an area of the association called Emerging Leaders, which brings together students and young people who have recently started to engage with the world of work.  

Workforce of the Future is a program, supported by the ISPE Foundation, aimed at students who aspire to joining the world of life science.

We have a road show planned, due to start at the beginning of 2024, that will be touring Italy’s leading universities to raise awareness of ISPE and the roles that young graduates are called upon to fill in the life science industry.

Annex 1, sustainability, digitalisation, and new treatments are just some of the issues that ISPE explores by organising events, working groups, and special interest groups".

Sustainability and digitalisation: What contribution can your association make and, in your opinion, how is the life science market moving in relation to these issues?

“There is no doubt that these two topics will be among the main pillars of support for this industry, and others, in the coming years.

Businesses that have not digitalised by 2030 will suffer an inexorable decline and digitalisation goes hand in hand with sustainability.

Having been attentive to these issues for years, ISPE has organised a group within the association called Pharma 4.0, which has pledged to introduce the digital world within the life science industry through smart factories.

Every year, experts from the working group conduct a global survey to assess businesses’ digital maturity and results show that the degree of development varies from one region to another and one type of business to another; overall, though, the level of interest and implementation is growing, also thanks to assistance from associations such as ISPE.

All-encompassing sustainability is another aspect that ISPE surveys and supports; one particular global working group, with which the budding Italian group is in contact, is interested in promoting sustainability, at all levels, in the daily operations of life science businesses.

A host of events have already been organised on the issue over recent years and we, with our experts, will continue to draw attention to the matter and provide guidelines.

There are many life science businesses making a very real commitment, which are creating a business model that not only ensures they will have the necessary resources in the long term but also focuses on the environment, social wellbeing, and fair and far-sighted governance. ISPE, and its experts, will always be aligned and ready to assist companies with their environmental stewardship plans and diversity and inclusion programmes".

For further information on ISPE activities: www.ispe.org