Active Learning Symposium 2025
24 November 2025
Online
2pm London GMT / 9am Boston EST
Closed-loop labs, powered by Active Learning, rapidly accelerate experimentation.
Expected Outcomes and Benefits
Meet with academic experts and industry innovators in a focused symposium to hear the latest case studies in the use of Active Learning/Bayesian Optimisation in a variety of industry applications including pharma, semiconductors, chemistry and materials.
Stay informed about the latest developments. This programme takes a deep dive into best practice approaches and latest technological advancements; bringing together thought leaders for focused discussions and networking. Discuss and facilitate knowledge exchange about the latest use-cases.
Understand current challenges and limitations. What challenges will I face in the future? What do I have to prepare for? Where are my strengths and weaknesses, compared to other teams and their challenges?
10+
Pharma Companies have built Bayesian Optimisation teams since 2022
$5m
Estimated average annual savings from Bayesian Optimisation
5-25%
Average BO performance improvement with Transfer Learing Bayesian Optimisation
1 day
Time to implement BO in established applied maths teams
Active Learning 2025: Provisional Program
(London, GMT)
14:00 15-minute Keynote
14:15 Team Introductions
Roche: Joshua Song
More TBA
15:00 Discussion Round: pre-defined questions first, then open questions
16:00 Cutting Edge: Industry Talks 15 mins each, x2
16:30 Cutting Edge: Academic Talks 15 mins each, x2
17:00 Startup Corner: TBA
17:25 Conclusion and 2026 Symposium Announcement
Sponsors
Unified Laboratory Informatics & Management Software made for enterprise R&D teams.
TBC
Ever wondered how the Active Learning symposium started?
It all started with the New Orleans West Inn hotel manager giving us the penthouse ballroom for free for one night back in 2023!
At NeurIPS 2023, we at Matterhorn Studio hosted an informal gathering of Bayesian Optimisation & Lab Automation enthusiasts. It was an incredible evening of deep discussions, idea-sharing, and cross-industry insights. Here we:
Brought together experts from ML, science, and industry
Bridged AI-driven optimisation with real-world applications
Created a space for innovation and future collaborations
Active Learning Grants
Matterhorn Studio has raised £1000 towards Active Learning Grants, and is hoping to raise more during the Active Learning U.K. symposium.
These initial grants will be given to the most promising African research proposals in Active Learning.
180 attendants
Speakers from Bayer, Merck KGaA, Novo Nordisk, MSD, and more!
Jose Folch
SOLVE
Alexander Hopp
Merck KGaA
Rune Christensen
Novo Nordisk
Giulio Volpin
Bayer
Kevin Stone
MSD
Lionel Colliandre
Evotec
Hosted by Matterhorn Studio
A Global Collective of Machine Learning Researchers
We enable high-performance Machine Learning for high-performance teams of scientists in Pharmaceuticals, Chemistry and Materials.
Based in Oxford, UK, we pride ourselves in Our Values of scientific excellence and social responsibility.