Called the AI-Driven, Rapid, Experimental Automation Machine (DREAM) Cloud Lab, this facility aims to become a national resource to dramatically accelerate the development of new medicines, sustainable materials, agricultural technologies and other biotechnology innovations. “This funding recognizes Northwestern’s longstanding leadership at the intersection of engineering, AI and biology,” said Chris Schuh, dean of the McCormick School of Engineering. DREAM will be physically housed within the CSB’s Synthetic Biology Foundry, a shared research facility equipped with advanced robotics and protein-engineering tools. The Synthetic Biology Foundry is co-located with the Querrey InQbation Lab, Northwestern’s startup incubator hub, allowing research breakthroughs to quickly transition from the lab and into new companies and products. “The Northwestern DREAM Cloud Lab will be a game changer for the State of Illinois,” said Christy George, president and chief executive officer, Illinois Economic Development Corporation.