Software Defined Acoustic Levitation Platform for Lab Automation

SONATA will establish a new paradigm in laboratory automation by replacing pipettes, plates and tubes with contact-free, software-defined acoustic levitation. Building on ERC/FET-funded research and more than a decade of leadership in acoustic holography, AcoustoFab has advanced the technology from curiosity to TRL4–5 prototypes, validated through paid pilots at Diamond Light Source and with pharma partners. The resulting platform uses phased-array ultrasound to levitate, transport, merge and analyse droplets in mid-air, enabling contamination-free workflows that reduce sample loss, plastic waste and variability.The project will advance our development from TRL5 to TRL8 by integrating a robust acoustic engine, spectroscopic modules, and a CE/FCC-certified enclosure. A cloud-based software stack will deliver workflow orchestration, compliance logging and intuitive automation. Over 36 months we will complete alpha and beta builds, validate workflows in proteomics, single-cell analysis and crystallography, and run an Early Access Partner programme with pharma, CRO and academic labs. Outcomes include a certified benchtop system, validated workflows and a scalable business model combining instrument sales with high-margin SaaS subscriptions for analytics and protocol libraries.SONATA meets EIC Transition goals by validating breakthrough deep tech in relevant environments and preparing a credible commercialisation pathway. Its impact is threefold: scientific, enabling faster, cleaner structural biology and diagnostics; economic, reducing consumable costs while accelerating drug discovery; and environmental, eliminating large volumes of single-use plastics and chemical waste.