A system for controlling a plurality of different bioreactor processes in a plurality of bioreactors, comprising: a control system comprising a first communication network; a second communication network; a utility tower comprising a plurality of sensors for coupling to at least one bioreactor, said utility tower configured to receive a first set of data signals related to conditions in the at least one bioreactor via said plurality of sensors and send information based on said first set of data signals over said first communication network, and further configured to receive a first control signal over said second communication network and change a condition in the at least one bioreactor based on said first control signal; a controller configured to run a bioreactor process, said controller connected to said utility tower by said first and second communication network, said controller configured to receive said information from said utility tower over said first network and determine said first control signal based on the first bioreactor process and/or said information from said utility tower, and send said first control signal to said utility tower over said second communication network; a bi-directional communication network connected to said control system; and a first sensor system coupled to said control system by said bi-directional communication network, said first sensor system comprising a connection for interacting with the at least one bioreactor, said first sensor system operable to send a second set of data signals that are related to said bioreactor to said control system via said bi-directional communication network, and further configured to receive one or more signals to from said control system and perform an action based on the one or more signals, wherein said utility tower is configured to receive said second set of data signals from said first sensor system and communicate information based on said second set of data signals to said controller over said first communication network. a control system comprising a first communication network; a second communication network; a utility tower comprising a plurality of sensors for coupling to at least one bioreactor, said utility tower configured to receive a first set of data signals related to conditions in the at least one bioreactor via said plurality of sensors and send information based on said first set of data signals over said first communication network, and further configured to receive a first control signal over said second communication network and change a condition in the at least one bioreactor based on said first control signal; a controller configured to run a bioreactor process, said controller connected to said utility tower by said first and second communication network, said controller configured to receive said information from said utility tower over said first network and determine said first control signal based on the first bioreactor process and/or said information from said utility tower, and send said first control signal to said utility tower over said second communication network; a bi-directional communication network connected to said control system; and a first communication network; a second communication network; a utility tower comprising a plurality of sensors for coupling to at least one bioreactor, said utility tower configured to receive a first set of data signals related to conditions in the at least one bioreactor via said plurality of sensors and send information based on said first set of data signals over said first communication network, and further configured to receive a first control signal over said second communication network and change a condition in the at least one bioreactor based on said first control signal; a controller configured to run a bioreactor process, said controller connected to said utility tower by said first and second communication network, said controller configured to receive said information from said utility tower over said first network and determine said first control signal based on the first bioreactor process and/or said information from said utility tower, and send said first control signal to said utility tower over said second communication network; a bi-directional communication network connected to said control system; and a first sensor system coupled to said control system by said bi-directional communication network, said first sensor system comprising a connection for interacting with the at least one bioreactor, said first sensor system operable to send a second set of data signals that are related to said bioreactor to said control system via said bi-directional communication network, and further configured to receive one or more signals to from said control system and perform an action based on the one or more signals, wherein said utility tower is configured to receive said second set of data signals from said first sensor system and communicate information based on said second set of data signals to said controller over said first communication network.