I-STEM is an organization formed by INSERM, the French national institute of health, with AFM, the French muscular dystrophy association, to validate the feasibility of using human embryonic stem cells for therapeutics. The organization is using a flexible robotic platform to automate the stem cell culturing and screening processes. The system marks the first time that stem cell culture and screening will be automated to this level of complexity in a 96-well microplate format and at this level of throughput. Based upon the BioCel 1800 Automation System, the I-STEM platform uses VWorks Automation Control software, an event driven controller, to manage protocols, and execute process runs. Liquid handling is handled by two VPrep Pipetting Systems. (All products Velocity11, Menlo Park, CA.)