News Production & Lab
European Coatings Podcast: From Excel to AI – the future of digital R&D
How will artificial intelligence change the way coatings are formulated? In the latest episode of the European Coatings Podcast, editor Yeray López speaks with Charles Jouanique, co‑founder of LabV, about the digital transformation of coatings R&D.
The discussion looks at why many laboratories still rely on Excel-based workflows and manual data handling, and how digital tools can help structure experimental data, reduce repetitive tasks and support faster innovation. Jouanique also highlights the growing risk of knowledge loss as experienced formulators retire, and how digital systems can help companies preserve expertise within their R&D teams.
The episode also addresses the impact of regulation and the increasing need for faster reformulation when raw materials become restricted. Structured data and AI-supported analysis could help laboratories respond more efficiently to these challenges.
Another focus is education. LabV is now being introduced into laboratory courses at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, where students will document experiments and formulations using the software. The aim is to familiarise future formulators with digital R&D tools while maintaining a strong foundation in experimental work.
To hear the full discussion on digital R&D, AI-supported formulation and the future of coatings innovation, listen to the latest European Coatings Podcast episode:
You can also watch the conversation on Youtube.
