Do we need fermentation experts or just operators (take 2)

With the advent of high throughput processing and advances in "plug and play" technologies, it may appear that fermentation expertise is a skill of the past. However, with more progress in the science and engineering of industrial processing, there is an ever increasing need for more advanced experts who are able to embrace the new technologies and apply them successfully, in particular in technology transfer.  This requires formal training.  By way of illustrative examples, the talk will argue for the case and discusses the pitfalls and opportunitites available to the now and next generation of fermentation experts.