The UK’s only trade event for the whole lab industry forges the way to sustainability and innovation

Lab Innovations returns for its eleventh edition on November 1 and 2, 2023, at Birmingham's NEC, poised to celebrate innovation and sustainability within the laboratory industry. This two-day event promises a showcase of cutting-edge developments, interactive demonstrations, and dedicated development zones while facilitating one-on-one interactions with industry experts and recognising excellence through the Lab Awards. Registration is open now, and attendees will have access to all that the UK lab community has to offer.

Last year, Lab Innovations hosted 192 exhibitors, featuring notable companies like SciMed, Esslab, LS Scientific, Analytix, DWK Life Sciences, PerkinElmer, SLS, Veolia Water Technologies, and Antylia Scientific (formerly Cole-Parmer). With a record rebooking rate from last year, the 2023 event has expanded its floorplan to accommodate more companies, ensuring visitors can explore a wide array of laboratory sectors, spanning biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cleanrooms, and more.

Lab Innovations welcomed an impressive 4,213 attendees in 2022, marking a 35% increase from the previous year, and the highest attendance in the event's history. Anticipations are high for another surge in attendance in 2023, with over 200 suppliers ready for discussions and more than 40 hours of informative content available across various CPD-accredited live theatre formats.

Lab Innovations features four free-to-attend content theatres: the Royal Society of Chemistry Theatre, the Insights & Innovation Theatre, the Cleanroom Hub, and Live Lab. Expert speakers will share insights on sustainability and draw lessons from unconventional sources, such as the Amazon jungle, for sustainable lab practices in the Royal Society of Chemistry and Insights & Innovations Theatres (the latter sponsored by PerkinElmer). Building on the success of the previous year, the Live Lab Theatre, dedicated to live technical demonstrations, has doubled in size for 2023.

The Sustainable Lab, run by Green Light Laboratories (GLL), is making a return. Andy Evans, GLL's director, has been advising laboratory end users on environmentally friendly equipment usage for over a decade. The event offers attendees the chance to witness equipment in action in a real laboratory environment and explore sustainable practices.

A significant draw for visitors is the opportunity to engage in one-on-one sessions with experts from world-leading manufacturers. The Ask the Experts space is a new addition to the Live Lab, and will provide access to experts who can offer insights on equipment usage, operational optimisation, and specialised applications.

Lab Innovations 2023 introduces the SmartLab area, focusing on AI, digitisation, robotics, automation, and smart technologies that are shaping the future of laboratories. Attendees can explore automated sample preparation, robotic assistants, laboratory management software, and more, all with expert guidance.

The SmartLab area will also host a startup innovation zone, showcasing tech startups from the UK and beyond, pushing the boundaries of progress with radical ideas and products.

The Lab Awards, in partnership with Laboratory News, are back and bigger than ever. While the submission deadline has passed, tickets for the event are available, and some award sponsorship opportunities remain open. This year, the awards ceremony will take place during a special black-tie gala dinner on November 1 at The Vox in Birmingham, where fourteen winners will be honoured, including rising stars, lab technicians, and smart labs.

Sustainability, automation, innovation, and celebration are at the heart of this event, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham on November 1 and 2. Join us and be part of the future of laboratory innovation.