Building bridges from process R&D: from a customer-supplier relationship to full partnership

A new and forward-looking way of running process R&D is introduced that integrates this core business in an efficient manner into the network of activities in different disciplines, which constitute the arena for the development of pharmaceutical products. The interfaces with surrounding areas are discussed in addition to the novel organizational principles implemented in process R&D and the workflow emanating from this. Furthermore, the Tollgate model used to keep track of the progress in a project and the pre-study concept are presented in detail. Finally, the main differences between operating modes in the past and in the future are highlighted.