As generative AI transforms chemical R&D from a decade-long, billion-dollar investment into a data-driven, autonomous engine, AUTOMA Chem 2026 (26–27 October, Berlin) brings together industry leaders to examine how AI-powered molecular discovery is delivering measurable ROI. In the world of chemical and pharmaceutical R&D, time is the most expensive resource. With industry data showing that traditional molecular discovery can take over a decade and cost upwards of $1 billion per asset, the integration of AI is now a key competitive advantage. Recent studies suggest that AI-driven R&D can minimise discovery timelines by up to 50%, translating to hundreds of millions in saved operational costs and accelerated time-to-market. The primary profit driver of AI in discovery is the significant reduction of physical trial-and-error. By predicting molecular properties and synthetic pathways in silico, companies can eliminate dead-end experiments before a single ...