An ECI Conference Series
October 12-15, 2026
Montreal, P.Q., Canada
About This Conference
Single-Use Technologies VIII is the eighth event in a unique ECI conference series that began in 2015. Our mission is to advance the fundamental science and engineering that underpins Single-Use Technology (SUT) used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The theme for this year's conference is "Single-Use Evolution: Foundations, Frontiers, and the Path to Sustainable Biomanufacturing."
Over three days, the conference will bring together 100-120 attendees from across the industry and academia. This conference is designed to bring together the entire single-use technology community. We welcome all who have a stake in the field, including: resin and film manufacturers, experts in polymers and materials science, single-use component developers and manufacturers, manufacturers of novel biomedical devices, end users, and quality/regulatory experts.
This conference builds on the success of past events by featuring relevant talks, poster presentations, and dedicated networking opportunities. Our program is structured around four key themes. Each session will include presentations that first establish the current state of the topic ("Foundations") before moving on to new developments and future directions ("Frontiers").
- End User Journey with Single-use Systems. This session seeks to capture the unfiltered, real-world experiences of end-users who have incorporated single-use technologies into their processes. We want to hear directly from you about the significant challenges you've faced and the notable victories you've achieved. We welcome submissions that highlight collaborations between suppliers and end-users and encourage end-users to share their insights. By sharing these stories, you will provide critical insights that can inform and guide the next generation of advancements in single-use manufacturing.
- Intelligent Manufacturing: The Synergy of Automation and Single-Use. This session will look at the synergy between automation and single-use technology, exploring how their combined application is critical for advancing biomanufacturing. We will showcase how automation is enhancing the precision and reliability of single-use systems, enabling smarter bioprocessing and more efficient manufacturing. The objective is to highlight practical innovations, from the design of single-use systems for advanced probe integration to the implementation of automation elements that drive improved performance.
- Ensuring Quality in Single-Use Manufacturing. This session will provide essential guidance on maintaining quality and regulatory compliance throughout the single-use technology lifecycle. We will explore key topics such as material integrity, extractables and leachables, and managing particulate risk. The goal is to equip attendees with the foundational knowledge and practical strategies needed to ensure the safety and quality of biopharmaceutical products manufactured with single-use systems.
- The Green Frontier: Innovating Single-Use for a Sustainable Future– This session will explore how single-use technologies can contribute to a more sustainable biomanufacturing industry. We will examine the environmental benefits and areas for improvement of single-use systems, especially supported by key sustainability metrics. Speakers will also present on recent advancements, from novel materials and innovative packaging to more sustainable end-of-life options like recycling and bag reuse. The goal is to provide a comprehensive look at how we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible for environmentally friendly biomanufacturing.
This conference brings together a multidisciplinary community to collaborate openly toward the advancement, expansion, and environmentally responsible use of single-use technology. The organizing committee welcomes the submission of high-quality scientific work, with a particular emphasis on data-supported presentations, case studies, and regulatory insights.
Conference Chairs
Gary Gilleskie
NCSU (USA)
Gary Gilleskie is the Executive Director of North Carolina State University’s Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) – a unique center whose mission is to develop skilled professionals for the biomanufacturing industry. Since joining BTEC in 2007, Gary has developed and taught numerous courses in the area of downstream biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing for university students, industry professionals, and various regulatory agencies throughout the world. Among those courses is Hands-on Single-use Processing for Biopharmaceuticals, a short course taught annually for industry professionals. In addition, he leads BTEC’s efforts in the area of viral-vector based gene therapy manufacturing. Prior to joining BTEC, Gary spent 15 years in both the chemical and biopharmaceutical industries, most recently at Diosynth Biotechnology (now Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies). Gary received his B.S. in chemical engineering from NC State University in 1986 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1993
Nelly Montenay
Sartorius
Nelly Montenay is Head of Science & Testing for a Product development group in BPS Sartorius. Nelly is a specialist in polymer sciences and polymer transformation with a strong background in film & tube extrusion. She received an Engineering degree in Polymer Sciences from the French ITECH Lyon Engineering School in 2003. With 20 years of experience in Polymer science, film development and product qualification testing, Nelly and her group are advocating Material sciences within Sartorius. With a strong interest in communication skills and people, Nelly plays also a key role in supporting projects & exchange within international groups.
Phillip Smith
GSK Biopharm, USA
Phillip Smith is the Director of Process Technology and Site Technical Head in the GSK Biopharm R&D Clinical Manufacturing Pilot Plant in King of Prussia, PA. He leads a team of Scientists and Engineers who conduct technology transfer, facility fit, process scale-up, and troubleshooting activities for Drug Substance manufacturing processes. They also author regulatory submissions, industrialize new processing technologies, and are leading the site’s digital transformation. Phil’s prior roles include late-phase process development, characterization, and control strategy development for downstream unit operations in GSK Biopharm R&D, and early-phase downstream process development and technology transfer at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Phil is a member of the Biopharm Sustainability Team and the author of the GSK CMC Handbook. Phil received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University.
Session Descriptions
Coming soon
Poster Session Chairs
Coming soon
Previous Conferences in this Series
Single-Use Technologies: Bridging Polymer Science to Biotechnology Applications
October 18-21, 2015
Leesburg, VA, USA
Conference Chairs:
Ekta Mahajan, Genentech, Inc., USA
Gary Lye, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, UK
Single-Use Technologies II: Bridging Polymer Science to Biotechnology Applications
May 7 – 10, 2017
Tomar, Portugal
Conference Chairs:
Ekta Mahajan, Genentech, Inc., USA
Gary Lye, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, UK
Regine Eibl, Zurich University of Applied Science, Switzerland
Single-Use Technologies III: Bridging Polymer Science to Biotechnology Applications
September 23 – 26, 2018
Snowbird, Utah, USA
Conference Chairs:
Weibing Ding, Amgen, USA
Martina Micheletti, University College London, United Kingdom
Robert Repetto, Pfizer, USA
Single-Use Technologies IV Webinar
May 20, May 25, June 1, 2021
Conference Chairs:
Magali Barbaroux, Sartorius, France
Weibing Ding, Amgen, USA
Martina Micheletti, University College London, United Kingdom
Single-Use Technologies V: Building The Future
March 20 – 23, 2022
Marseille, France
Conference Chairs:
Magali Barbaroux, Sartorius, France
Martina Micheletti, University College London, UK
Single-Use Technologies VI: Established, Emerent, Agile, Sustainable?
September 10 – 13, 2023
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Conference Chairs:
Magali Barbaroux, Sartorius, France
Sheryl Kane, Takeda, USA
Seongkyu Yoon, University of Massachusetts, USA
Single-Use Technologies VII
March 17-20, 2025
Malta
Conference Chairs:
Andrea Rayat, University College London, UK
Nelly Montenay, Sartorius, France
Katharina Neutsch, Roche Genentech, Germany
General Information About ECI
Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-for-profit, global engineering conferences program, originally established in 1962 that provides opportunities for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineers and scientists from many disciplines.
The format of the conference provides morning and late afternoon or evening sessions in which major presentations are made. Poster sessions will be scheduled for evening discussion as well. Available time is included during the afternoons for ad hoc meetings, informal discussions, and/or recreation. This format is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the development of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums.
All participants are expected both to attend the entire conference and to contribute actively to the discussions. The recording/photographing of lectures and presentations is forbidden. As ECI conferences take place in an informal atmosphere, casual clothing is the usual attire.
Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions.