Participation in the “BioSkillDX” Project — Transferring Tacit Knowledge of Life Science Experiments through AI：2025-10-15
- PtBio Inc.
- Oct 15
- 4 min read
PtBio Inc. is pleased to announce its participation as a joint research partner in the project “BioSkillDX: Acquisition of Tacit Knowledge and Work Support for Life Science Experimental Operations.” This initiative is part of the research and development theme “Digital Infrastructure Technology for Human Work Transmission to Effectively Pass Down Expertise” under the **JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency) Economic Security Critical Technology Development Program (K Program)*¹.
The project is led by The University of Tokyo, with collaboration from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo Institute of Science and Technology, Chiba University, Nagaoka University of Technology, National Institute of Informatics (NII), Research Organization of Information and Systems, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), OMRON SINIC X Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., and PtBio Inc.
In this project, we aim to develop a next-generation work support platform that visualizes and digitizes the tacit knowledge—such as advanced skills, techniques, and experiential know-how—required in life science laboratory settings through the use of AI.
Specifically, by accumulating data from biological experimental operations and leveraging AI to analyze and extract tacit knowledge derived from the intuition and experience of expert researchers, the system will be able to provide personalized feedback and optimized experimental protocols*². This will enable even less experienced researchers to perform experiments accurately and confidently.
Through these efforts, the project seeks to enhance experimental reproducibility, improve the efficiency of human resource development, and accelerate research and development in the life sciences field.
*² Experimental protocol: A detailed document describing the objectives, materials, equipment, procedures, and conditions used in scientific experiments and research.
Research and Development Area Led by PtBio
In life science research and development, the reproducibility and quality of experimental results often depend heavily on the skills of highly trained technicians who can perform complex experiments with precision. However, much of their expertise consists of tacit knowledge—subtle “know-how” and “techniques” that are not explicitly written in experimental protocols. At the same time, the decline in the number of skilled experts due to an aging population and the personalization of skill transmission have made it increasingly difficult to pass down these essential techniques. In particular, as pioneering experts and leading technicians retire or move to different roles, there is an urgent need to create systems that can preserve and transmit their invaluable knowledge to future generations before it is lost.
To address this challenge, PtBio is responsible for Subproject I-2-c, “Development of a System for Extracting and Archiving the Tacit Knowledge of Pioneers and Leading Experts in Experimental Techniques” (Principal Investigator: Hiromasa Ono, Director, Business Development Department). Through this initiative, PtBio will collaborate with other research institutions to develop a system that captures and preserves the tacit knowledge embedded in advanced and field-proven experimental protocols (expert-level protocols) before it disappears.
By systematically documenting and archiving the expertise of the pioneers who have led the field, and by building a foundation that enables organizations and industries to share and utilize this knowledge, PtBio aims to enhance the speed of research and development and foster greater innovation in the life sciences.
1. Efficient Extraction of Tacit Knowledge through Web Seminars and Interview-Based Approaches
Pioneering and leading experts in experimental techniques possess not only procedural knowledge but also deeply contextual and sophisticated tacit knowledge—such as the underlying purpose of protocol development, decision-making rationale, past trial-and-error processes, and responses to constraints. To effectively capture this embedded expertise, the research team employs Web seminar and interview-based methods, enabling experts to present the background, intentions, and insights behind their protocol development. Through interactive Q&A sessions, the team efficiently extracts and accumulates structured QA data that can be formalized into explicit knowledge.
This approach allows for the systematic documentation and sharing of invaluable expertise—traditionally passed down only through oral communication—beyond the boundaries of time, location, and organizational affiliation.
2. Development of Tacit Knowledge Extraction Guidelines and System Infrastructure
A systematic approach is essential to effectively elicit tacit knowledge. The research team will formulate guidelines for tacit knowledge extraction, clarifying which types of questions and dialogues are most effective for drawing out deep insights. Furthermore, the team will develop a system that automatically records and structures the dialogue content from web seminars, storing it in a format compatible with AI analysis.
Through this system, underlying insights that are not explicitly stated in experimental protocols—such as “Why was this decision made?” or “What subtle techniques or adjustments are involved?”—can be captured and accumulated as reusable, structured knowledge, contributing to long-term knowledge preservation and utilization.
3. Large-Scale Tacit Knowledge Collection and Integration into a Central Repository
Using the developed system, the project will advance the large-scale collection of tacit knowledge from multiple pioneers and experts. The collected insights will be aggregated and integrated into the overall BioSkillDX project’s central data repository, establishing a shared knowledge base that transcends individual laboratories and organizations.
This comprehensive repository will enable the standardization of protocol documentation, the intergenerational transfer of experimental skills, and the foundation for AI-driven support tools, ultimately contributing to more efficient human resource development, enhanced experimental reproducibility, and the accelerated social implementation of innovative technologies.
Future Outlook
Through this project, PtBio aims to contribute to the realization of digital transformation in knowledge and skill transfer within the life sciences field (BioSkillDX). By advancing the digitization and systematization of experimental expertise, we seek to ensure that valuable scientific know-how can be effectively preserved, shared, and utilized across generations.
If you are interested in or resonate with this initiative, we warmly invite you to contact us.
