Calira, formerly known as Clustermarket, has announced a major rebrand and the appointment of Edmund Wilson, co-founder and former CEO of Titian Software (now Cenevo), as a non-executive director and investor. The move underscores Calira’s strategy to strengthen its position as the go-to provider for lab operations optimization amid increasing enterprise demand in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors.
For several years, Calira’s (formerly Clustermarket’s) equipment scheduling platform has been widely adopted by academic institutions and small-to-medium-sized biotech companies for simplifying lab management and improving equipment utilization. However, the company has recently experienced a sharp rise in interest from large enterprise R&D organizations — including industry giants such as Merck (MSD), Moderna, Eli Lilly, Takeda, and Lonza — as the sector confronts growing financial pressures and organizational restructuring.
According to recent data, global biopharma layoffs surged by 63% in 2024 compared to 2022, highlighting the volatility facing the industry. This uncertainty is driving pharmaceutical and biotech firms to scrutinize return on investment (ROI) in research and development, prompting a renewed focus on maximizing laboratory efficiency and operational performance.
Responding to Industry Pressure
Calira’s rebrand comes at a pivotal time for the life sciences industry. As companies reassess R&D budgets and capital expenditure, LabOps (laboratory operations) teams are increasingly being asked to justify equipment purchases, improve utilization rates, and provide clear data to support procurement and strategic planning.
However, achieving these goals is challenging. A McKinsey & Company report recently revealed that the average asset utilization rate in pharma labs stands at just 35%, underscoring a significant gap between investment and output.
Calira aims to bridge that gap through its AI-powered lab management software, which streamlines operations by automating complex scheduling tasks and generating actionable insights into lab performance.
Smart Scheduling for Smarter Science
Calira’s platform addresses one of the most persistent issues in research and development — underutilized and poorly managed lab equipment. By integrating artificial intelligence, the system can automatically schedule multiple instruments simultaneously, optimizing time slots and minimizing conflicts between users.
In addition to automating equipment scheduling, the platform provides real-time usage tracking, enabling lab managers to monitor asset performance and identify patterns that inform CapEx investment decisions. These insights not only reduce downtime and maintenance costs but also ensure compliance and longevity of high-value equipment.
Johannes Solzbach, CEO and co-founder of Calira, emphasized the importance of efficient lab management in today’s R&D landscape:
“Lab operations are the foundation of successful research. Without them, expensive instruments go underused, equipment breaks down, maintenance becomes inefficient, and valuable data is lost. In a world where every investment is under scrutiny, AI-driven LabOps can have a transformational impact on productivity, sustainability, and innovation.”
One notable example of this transformation is Calira’s collaboration with Lonza, a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). Lonza’s Cambridge lab implemented Calira’s scheduling software to streamline equipment management and improve decision-making around asset procurement.
Bishoy Habib, Lonza’s lab manager, reported significant benefits from using the system:
“With Calira, we now have the data to justify new equipment purchases or flag assets that need to be replaced. It’s given us greater control and confidence in how we manage our resources.”
Investor Confidence and Strategic Growth
Calira’s evolution from Clustermarket also comes with strong backing from 24Haymarket, a leading investment firm known for supporting high-growth technology ventures. The firm, alongside other existing investors, has reaffirmed its commitment to Calira’s vision by increasing its financial support in the latest round.
Alan Jamieson, investor director at 24Haymarket and Chairman of Calira, expressed confidence in the company’s direction:
“Calira is at an exciting stage of its journey. Having partnered with the team for several years, we’ve seen first-hand their ability to execute and adapt to industry needs. The company is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the increasing demand for data-driven LabOps solutions, and with additional investment, we look forward to helping them scale globally.”
The appointment of Edmund Wilson as a non-executive director marks another strategic milestone. Wilson brings deep experience in laboratory informatics and enterprise software development from his time at Titian Software, where he helped transform lab workflow management for leading pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
Solzbach added:
“Our rebrand reflects our evolution from a scheduling tool to a complete LabOps enabler for commercial R&D organizations embracing AI transformation. Edmund’s expertise and perspective will be invaluable as we expand our platform’s capabilities and address the complex operational challenges faced by enterprise biotech and pharma customers.”
Wilson echoed this enthusiasm, noting the company’s potential to become a key player in digital lab transformation:
“I’m delighted to join a team that is redefining how labs operate. Calira’s vision aligns perfectly with the future of R&D—where data-driven insights and automation optimize every aspect of the lab environment. Johannes and his team have built an impressive foundation, and I look forward to helping guide the company through its next phase of growth.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of LabOps
Calira’s rebrand is more than a name change—it reflects a strategic shift toward becoming the central platform for enterprise-scale lab optimization. By combining smart automation, data analytics, and intuitive design, the company is enabling R&D organizations to achieve greater efficiency, compliance, and ROI at a time when resource allocation is under intense scrutiny.
The Calira team will showcase its latest innovations at Future Labs Live USA 2025, taking place October 15–16, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA, where they will demonstrate how AI-driven LabOps can redefine research productivity for global pharmaceutical and biotech organizations.
With a new name, a strengthened leadership team, and growing investor confidence, Calira is poised to become a cornerstone in the next generation of laboratory innovation — transforming the way science gets done by helping labs operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably.
