Lab Digitalization Services · Zürich
15 years leading global R&D digitalization projects in the chemical industry — now independent. I help R&D organisations in chemicals, life sciences, and pharma modernise how their labs operate, their data flows, and their science scales.
About
Base
Zürich · Remote-ready globally
Industries
Chemicals · Life Sciences · Pharma
Engagement
Project-based · Advisory · RFP/RFI
Languages
Slovenian · English · German · Serbo-Croatian · Spanish
PhD chemist and certified project manager with 15 years of industrial R&D experience — from bench scientist to Team Lead Data Science overseeing the digitalization of 100+ laboratories across all regions.
I bring rare end-to-end perspective: I have designed instruments, piloted LIMS/ELN, built data lakes, designed portfolio management systems, and scaled AI programs — always with the scientist's eye for what actually needs to work at the bench level. My career details are in the timeline below.
The work I do creates tangible value: eliminating data silos across organisations, driving operational efficiency through automation, improving collaboration between R&D teams globally, and building the AI-ready data foundations that turn raw laboratory data into strategic advantage. Transparency across the R&D portfolio — from bench to board — is the consistent outcome.
I carry no vendor affiliations. My only interest is the right solution for your organisation.
Career
2026 — Present
Lab Digitalization Services · Zürich
Advising R&D organisations on laboratory digitalization, LIMS/ELN deployment, instrument integration, and data management strategy. Available for project-based and advisory engagements across chemicals, life sciences, and pharma.
Dec 2023 – Mar 2026
Global Innovation Management · Sika Technology AG, Zürich
Led digital transformation of global R&D with a matrix team of 15–20. Integrated 100+ laboratories worldwide, established data lakes and IT interfaces, defined master data structures, and enabled AI programs. Built training ecosystems for 1,000+ end users and 10+ data scientists across 100+ locations.
Apr 2019 – Nov 2023
Strategic Performance Management · Sika Technology AG, Zürich
Implemented global R&D portfolio management covering 5,000+ projects across 100+ locations. Designed BI dashboards and executive reports to drive transparency and efficiency across the global R&D network.
Jan 2014 – Mar 2019
Sika Technology AG, Zürich
Designed and piloted a LIMS/ELN for global R&D. Pioneered inorganic foam research (patent EP4119525A1). Contributed to Sika's concrete 3D printing initiative.
Sep 2011 – Dec 2013
Sika Technology AG, Zürich
Designed and deployed 350+ instruments across 30+ concrete and mortar laboratories globally. Managed full product lifecycle from concept through installation, training, and support.
Services
End-to-end support from business case to go-live, grounded in hands-on LIMS/ELN design at global scale.
Connecting analytical instruments to your data infrastructure — built from deploying 350+ instruments across 30+ global labs.
A prioritized, executable roadmap aligned with your organisational reality and budget constraints.
Turning R&D data into decisions — from KPI design to executive dashboards, grounded in years of BI delivery across global R&D organisations.
PMP-certified project leadership for complex R&D digitalization initiatives — from scoping through delivery and adoption.
Building the data foundations and AI capabilities that turn R&D operations into a competitive advantage.
Mr. Oblak made a substantial contribution to the digital transformation of the global R&D organisation at Sika. Under his leadership, the R&D data management solution was successfully deployed across 60 laboratories in all regions, significantly improving data availability, transparency, collaboration, and productivity.
Milan Kundra
Global R&D Digitalization Manager · Sika Technology AG · March 2026
Luka impressed us with his ability to bridge the worlds of science, data, and business strategy. He brings not only deep technical expertise but also the communication skills and structured thinking needed to drive complex digital projects to successful completion.
Michael Meyer
Head of Strategic Performance Management · Sika Technology AG
Credentials
Contact
Whether you're scoping a LIMS replacement, making sense of your instrument data, or building a digitalization roadmap — I'm happy to have an initial conversation at no charge.
Phone
Location
Zürich, Switzerland