HighRes, a leader in lab automation software, and Opentrons, a prominent laboratory robotics company, have announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to introduce the industry's first AI agent-to-agent laboratory workflow, fundamentally changing how scientific experiments are automated. The joint effort promises to create a new model for research by connecting intuitive robotics with enterprise-level AI-ready infrastructure, accelerating the pace of discovery.
A New Era of Lab Automation
The partnership integrates Opentrons' flexible Opentrons Flex® robotic platforms with HighRes's industry-leading Cellario® orchestration software. This synergy creates a seamless pathway for scientists to adopt automation and scale their operations as workflow complexity increases. The goal is to provide a unified system that grows with a laboratory's needs, from individual instruments to fully integrated ecosystems.
Bridging AI Intent with Physical Execution
At the heart of this innovation is an agent-to-agent communication model, where autonomous software agents interact to plan and execute experiments. Scientists will be able to use natural language commands to initiate complex procedures, such as semi-automated qPCR workflows. This approach significantly lowers the barrier to entry for sophisticated automation, making it more accessible to a broader range of researchers.
This AI-driven system is designed to create a unified digital lab experience, integrating experiment planning, execution, and data management into a single cohesive process. By establishing a shared orchestration layer, the platform unifies data, devices, and decisions, creating an operational model ready for future AI advancements. The commitment to open APIs ensures interoperability, allowing Opentrons' robots to work alongside instruments from various vendors.
Leadership Perspectives on the Collaboration
Ira Hoffman, CEO of HighRes, highlighted the shared vision behind the collaboration, praising Opentrons as an innovator in democratizing lab automation. He emphasized that together, the companies are unlocking greater speed and access for scientists without compromising on reliability. This philosophy underpins their joint effort to make advanced automation more attainable for life science organizations of all sizes.
Echoing this sentiment, Opentrons CEO James Atwood described the partnership as a fundamental rethinking of how automation is used in real-world lab settings. He stated that the goal is to build a tightly integrated system where AI-driven intent is translated directly into reliable physical execution. This focus on practical application aims to bridge the gap between digital commands and tangible scientific outcomes at the bench.
Industry Debut at SLAS 2026
The public will get its first look at this groundbreaking technology at the upcoming SLAS 2026 conference in Boston. HighRes and Opentrons plan to debut a live demonstration of the agent-to-agent lab workflow from February 9 to 11. This event will serve as a major milestone, showcasing the practical application of their integrated AI and robotics platform.
This strategic alliance between HighRes and Opentrons represents a significant leap forward in the pursuit of fully autonomous scientific discovery. By combining powerful robotics with intelligent orchestration, the partnership is poised to accelerate research and enhance reproducibility across the life sciences. The upcoming demonstration will offer a compelling glimpse into a future where AI and automation work in concert to solve complex biological challenges.