LAB University of Applied Sciences

What LAB University of Applied Sciences does

LAB University of Applied Sciences (LAB-ammattikorkeakoulu) is a Finnish non-profit higher education institution founded in 2020 through the merger of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences and the previous LAB University of Applied Sciences. Operating across two physical campuses in Lahti and Lappeenranta plus an e-campus, the institution delivers bachelor's (AMK), master's (YAMK), and continuing-education programs across five fields: Business, Health and Social Services, Technology, Hospitality and Tourism, and Design (including Fine Arts and Visual Communication). It serves domestic and international students through the national Finnish joint application system (yhteishaku) with three intake windows annually, alongside businesses seeking R&D collaboration, pilot testing, and continuing education.

Name

LAB University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

LAB University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://lab.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Applied higher education
• Bioeconomy pilot research
• Professional continuing education
• R&D collaboration services
• Sustainability research platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Lappeenranta

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: As a Finnish University of Applied Sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu), LAB receives government funding for education and research activities based on performance agreements with the Ministry of Education and Culture.
2. Tuition Fees: Tuition is free for EU/EEA students. Non-EU students pay tuition for English-language degree programmes.
3. R&D Services and Pilot Testing: LAB Biofine and other research units provide pilot testing, R&D collaboration, and consulting services to companies in bioeconomy, circular economy, and related sectors. Revenue comes from project funding (EU, national) and direct service contracts.
4. Continuing Education: LAB provides continuing education (täydennyskoulutus) and professional development services for working professionals, including language and communication studies, specialist programmes, and open university of applied sciences courses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

LAB University of Applied Sciences provides higher education degrees (Bachelor's AMK, Master's YAMK), open university of applied sciences courses, and continuing education across five fields: hospitality and tourism, business, health and social services, technology, and design/fine arts. It also delivers applied R&D services, pilot-plant testing (notably through LAB Biofine and LAB Food Pilot Plant), and corporate training/consulting aimed at supporting companies in bioeconomy, circular economy, and timber construction.

Product overview

LAB University of Applied Sciences operates as a higher education institution offering a portfolio of research, development, and innovation services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include LAB Biofine (an innovation and development platform for bioeconomy featuring pilot plant capabilities with pressurized hot water extraction and deep eutectic solvents technologies), LAB Wood (timber construction and BIM research), and the LAB Food Pilot Plant. These are complemented by the Multipurpose Materials Research Infrastructure and the Biobased Materials and Processes Research Group. All offerings are built on circular economy principles and are designed to support companies in developing sustainable bio-based products and processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LAB Biofine Innovation and Development Platform (with Pilot Plant) An innovation and development platform for the bioeconomy that helps companies turn bio-based ideas into sustainable business through agile piloting, cutting-edge research, and international collaboration. Includes a modular pilot-scale production facility featuring pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) up to 200°C and 20 bar(g), and natural deep eutectic solvents (DES) extraction, enabling scale-up from laboratory to industrial processes.
• LAB Food Pilot Plant A product development environment for food technology and innovation, supporting companies in developing new food products and processes within LAB's multipurpose materials competence area.
• LAB Wood Research Initiative A research initiative focused on timber construction, building information modeling (BIM), and digitalization of production chains for wood products. Supports companies through data transfer solutions, including IFC-based architectural-to-structural model data transfer, in collaboration with named pilot partners UPM Plywood Oy, Sweco Finland Oy, VVR Wood Oy, Vertex Solutions Oy, and Parmaco Oy.
• Multipurpose Materials Research Infrastructure Research infrastructure focused on bio-based materials and material flows, developing circular economy solutions in collaboration with companies, combining novel material technologies, AI, digital solutions, and data-driven business models.
• Biobased Materials and Processes Research Group Multidisciplinary research team promoting circular economy and energy transitions through sustainable value chains, smart biorefinery, food system solutions, and bio-based CO2 capture and utilization methods. Undertakes contract research and collaborative projects with companies.
• Higher Education Degree Programmes (Bachelor's AMK, Master's YAMK, Online) Tuition-free (EU/EEA) Bachelor's (AMK) and Master's (YAMK) degree programmes across five fields — hospitality and tourism, business, health and social services, technology, and design/fine arts — delivered across Lahti campus, Lappeenranta campus, and the e-campus. Non-EU/EEA students pay tuition for English-language programmes.
• Continuing Education and Open University of Applied Sciences Continuing education (täydennyskoulutus), specialist programmes (erikoistumiskoulutus), open university of applied sciences courses, and language and communication studies for working professionals, delivered under the LUT Universities brand jointly with LUT University.

Quantifiable outcome

• LAB's RDI activities have significant impact in South Karelia and Päijät-Häme regions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MakroncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Makron from Lahti was selected as the supplier for LAB Biofine's pilot plant. The contract includes supply of pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) system and implementation of supporting pilot plant infrastructure. The approximately EUR 1.1 million procurement is co-funded by EU's Just Transition Fund (JTF), City of Lappeenranta and LAB.
• LUT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024LAB and LUT University collaborate closely on bioeconomy research and education. LUT's Department of Separation Science contributes expertise to LAB Biofine ecosystem. Joint projects include LAB Biofine development and internationalization initiatives. Total project portfolio value approximately EUR 4.8 million including self-financing.
• Regional Council of South KareliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Regional Council of South Karelia is a key partner in the LAB Biofine ecosystem. The council supports the bioeconomy competence cluster initiative and collaborates on regional development goals for attracting bioeconomy investments to the region.
• City of LappeenrantacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024City of Lappeenranta is a co-funder and strategic partner in the LAB Biofine investment project. Contributed to EU JTF funding application and supports the development of bioeconomy ecosystem in the region. Provides investment support for pilot plant development.
• LADEC (Lahti Region Development)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLADEC collaborates with LAB on regional development projects including New Trends of Electrification (NTE) seminar series and various business development initiatives in the Lahti region.
• UPM Plywood OymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPM Plywood Oy participates in LAB Wood pilot project examining machine-readable construction product data utilization in structural design for timber construction.
• Sweco Finland OymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSweco Finland Oy collaborates with LAB and UPM Plywood in LAB Wood data transfer pilot examining integration of product data in structural design.
• VVR Wood OymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVR Wood Oy partners with LAB in LAB Wood pilot examining IFC-based architectural model data transfer to structural and prefabricated component design.
• Vertex Solutions OymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVertex Solutions Oy collaborates with LAB exploring IFC-based data transfer between architects and element designers using Vertex BD software in timber construction.
• Parmaco OymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParmaco Oy participates in LAB Wood pilot project focusing on prefabrication and element design of timber structures with IFC-based data transfer.
• Forum Virium HelsinkiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForum Virium Helsinki collaborated with LAB in the PilotGreen project (2022-2025) which tested 13 urban greening solutions with 20 companies in Helsinki and Lahti.
• LAHTI GEM (Green Electrification of Mobility Cluster)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAHTI GEM collaborates with LAB on New Trends of Electrification (NTE) international seminar, bringing together professionals and perspectives on electrification.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Turku University of Applied Sciences: Established Finnish UAS with broad programme portfolio, applied R&D, and continuing education; broader scope but similar public funding and corporate-service model.
• Aalto University: Finnish technical university with stronger research mandate and broader technology/biomaterials capability, operating as a peer at the higher-education level rather than applied sciences niche.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: State RTO operating bioeconomy pilot infrastructure comparable to LAB Biofine at greater scale; competes for corporate bioeconomy R&D contracts but lacks education mandate.

Direct peers

• Metropolia University of Applied Sciences: Largest Finnish UAS with similar mix of business, health, technology, and design programmes plus active R&D. Most directly comparable on scale, programme breadth, and corporate engagement model.
• Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK): Finnish UAS with overlapping applied R&D portfolio including bioeconomy and circular economy, comparable size, regional development mandate, and corporate service offering.
• LUT University: Direct strategic partner under the LUT Universities brand, sharing bioeconomy/separation science research and joint cross-enrolment. Same Finnish higher education system with overlapping technology and sustainability focus.
• Savonia University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS with comparable size and applied R&D in bioeconomy, environmental technology, and circular materials — overlapping capabilities with LAB Biofine's mandate.
• South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK): Finnish UAS operating in adjacent South-Eastern Finland with similar bioeconomy and forest-industry research focus, comparable size and public funding model.
• Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK): Larger Finnish UAS serving similar student and corporate audiences across business, health, and technology fields, with applied R&D operations and continuing education offerings.

Regional players

• Novia University of Applied Sciences: Smaller Swedish- and Finnish-language UAS in Western Finland with applied technology and business programmes; comparable operating model but different geographic catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmSsqXBoUJE8LH73SLT9GhQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LABfinland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labfinland
• Instagraminstagram.com/labfinland
• TikToktiktok.com/@lab.fi
• Xx.com/labfinland

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LAB University of Applied Sciences