Welcome to this year’s focus on industry training programs. In the past three years we’ve brought this information to you in several forms: as a full supplement issue (2016), a featured report (2017) – and now this ebook. Each program that we’ve profiled offers its unique approach to training present and future biotechnologists. The best of the programs offer hands-on training with current equipment provided by supplier partners and with up-to-date approaches to documentation and regulatory requirements. Many university- and community-college–based programs, once lacking in practical, GMP training, now also benefit from a wealth of hands-on manufacturing experience toward resolving real-world issues.

So far, beginning in late 2016, BPI has profiled the following training programs:
• the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), North Carolina State University (and related NCSU course offerings)
• the UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering’s Modular Training for the Bioprocess Industry (MBI) program
• the Biotech Training Facility, Leiden Bioscience Park, the Netherlands
• the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL)
• the International Society of Automation (ISA), the Automation Group, and the American Society of Engineering (example programs that focus on automation and related requirements)
• the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing, Texas A&M University
• the Singapore Institute of Technology
• Solano and Miracosta junior colleges (CA)
• company/supplier-sponsored courses, including those offered by Biogen, Fujifilm DioSynth Biotechnologies, Novo Nordisk, Sartorius Stedim Biotech, and in this ebook, MilliporeSigma.

This ebook continues to help us explore the theme by offering an example of how a major industry supplier conducts training with its equipment and supported processes. The second article profiles a training program within BPI’s own, larger company (Informa) that develops courses in collaboration with industry consultants.