Cloud Labs & Remote Research
Emerald Cloud Lab
by Emerald Cloud Lab, Inc.
Remotely operated automated biology laboratory accessible entirely through software commands
Category
Cloud Labs & Remote Research
Founded
2013
Headquarters
San Francisco, CA, USA
Overview
Emerald Cloud Lab (ECL) is a fully automated, remotely operated biology and chemistry laboratory that researchers access entirely through a software interface — no physical access to the lab is required. Scientists write experimental protocols in ECL's Symbolic Lab Language (SLL) or use the graphical interface, submit them to ECL's robotic laboratory, and receive data back in a structured, analysis-ready format. The lab performs synthesis, purification, characterization, cell biology, and analytical chemistry experiments using an integrated array of automated instruments. Biotech startups, academic labs, and pharmaceutical researchers use ECL to run experiments without maintaining physical lab infrastructure, enabling fully remote research that can scale instantly without capital equipment costs. ECL was one of the first cloud labs to achieve FDA recognition for data integrity, and the platform is used by companies who want to outsource experimental execution while retaining full intellectual property ownership of their data and protocols. Emerald Cloud Lab's core differentiator is the completeness of its automation — over 100 individual experiment types are available, from NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to cell culture and flow cytometry, all integrated under a single programmatic interface. The SLL language enables full experimental reproducibility and sharable protocols. ECL was acquired by Palantir Technologies in 2021, adding enterprise data management capabilities to the platform.
Key Features
Scalable Infrastructure
Handle experiments from single reactions to high-throughput screening campaigns.
Integrated Data Pipeline
Automated data capture, processing, and delivery with full experiment metadata.
Sample Shipping & Logistics
Managed sample shipping with temperature-controlled logistics and chain-of-custody tracking.
Multi-Instrument Access
Access diverse instruments (liquid handlers, plate readers, sequencers) without owning them.
Remote Experiment Execution
Run experiments from anywhere via web interface with full robotic automation in the cloud lab.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Pre-validated protocols for common assays reduce setup time and optimization effort
- +Scalable infrastructure handles experiments from single reactions to high-throughput campaigns
- +Integrated data pipeline captures every experimental parameter for full reproducibility
- +Pay-per-experiment model eliminates capital equipment costs for early-stage research teams
- +Automated execution eliminates human variability and improves experimental reproducibility
- +Remote lab access enables researchers to run experiments from anywhere via web interface
Cons
- −Turnaround times can be longer than in-house execution for time-sensitive experiments
- −Limited flexibility for highly customized or novel experimental protocols not in the standard catalog
- −Per-experiment costs can exceed in-house costs for labs running high volumes of routine assays
- −Troubleshooting experimental failures is more difficult without direct observation of execution
- −Shipping biological samples introduces logistical complexity and potential sample degradation
Use Cases
Research Workflow Optimization
AI-powered optimization of research workflows to accelerate discovery timelines and improve reproducibility.
Data Analysis & Insights
Machine learning analysis of complex biological datasets to extract actionable insights and identify patterns.
Collaboration & Knowledge Management
Platform-enabled collaboration across distributed research teams with integrated data sharing and knowledge capture.