What Lab Innovations does

Lab Innovations operates the UK's only dedicated trade exhibition for the laboratory industry, held annually at the NEC Birmingham since 2011 and organised by the Easyfairs Group (a privately held Belgian exhibition company running 200 events across 14 countries). The core product is the flagship Lab Innovations trade show, which in 2025 attracted 4,700+ attendees (scientists, lab managers, R&D professionals, and quality specialists) and 200+ exhibiting suppliers across the analysis, digital, design, and operational support categories. The offering is anchored by five free-to-attend conference theatres (Live Lab, Quality Infrastructure Forum, Royal Society of Chemistry Theatre, Future of Laboratories Stage, and Biotech Hub) with 60+ expert speakers, CPD accreditation from the CPD Group, and content partnerships with Royal Society of Chemistry, UKAS, NPL, and BSI. Supporting digital infrastructure includes the Smart Badge lead-capture system, the Visit Connect tool, the My Easyfairs exhibitor portal, and the AE & Lab Connect mobile app for co-located networking.

The business model is a hybrid of free visitor registration driving high attendee volume (creating demand-side value for paying exhibitors) and tiered monetisation on the supply side: exhibitor stand fees across size categories from 3-6sqm to 24sqm+, sponsorship packages ranging from under £3,000 to over £20,000 (including headline partnership, conference theatre sponsorship, live lab demo slots, lanyards, event bags, and floor tiles), and EasyGo add-on packages (GoLeads, GoPlus, GoPremium) that bundle Smart Badge reader allocations and lead analytics. Co-location with Advanced Engineering (Halls 3 and 3a) and UK Metals (Hall 4) at the same NEC venue provides structural distribution reach of 8,000+ additional cross-industry attendees. Year-round monetisation is being layered through the Lab Matters podcast (sponsored by PolyScience), the Digital Hub content platform, the AI in Science and Laboratories industry report, and the annual Lab Awards ceremony.

Growth levers include thematic expansion into sustainability, quality & compliance, biotech, AI & automation, and skills development via the colLABorate initiative, alongside deeper institutional partnerships (e.g., the SLS Pavilion aggregating sub-exhibitors such as Eppendorf, Julabo, Cytiva, and Azenta). Distribution remains UK-only with no disclosed geographic expansion plans; the entity is privately held within Easyfairs Group, which has been named Belgium's 'Entrepreneur of the Year' (2018) and received Deloitte 'Best Managed Company' status, providing operational and reputational tailwinds. Named exhibitors include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sartorius UK, Waters UK, SDI Group, and Holiferm, with strong rebooking signals (e.g., SDI Group expanding to a larger group stand).

Name

Lab Innovations

Legal name

Easyfairs Group

Website

https://lab-innovations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lab Innovations operates the UK's only dedicated annual laboratory industry trade exhibition, organised by Easyfairs Group and held at NEC Birmingham, attracting 4,700+ attendees and 200+ suppliers, and generating revenue through stand fees, tiered sponsorship, and lead-generation add-ons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Exhibition and Event Services

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC)

Keywords

• Trade exhibition events
• Laboratory industry events
• B2B trade shows
• Exhibitor services
• Conference programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Stand Fees: Revenue generated from companies purchasing exhibition space at the event. Stand sizes range from 3-6sqm to 24sqm+, with tiered pricing based on size and location.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Tiered sponsorship opportunities including headline partnership, conference theatre sponsorship (headline and associate levels), live lab demo slots, lanyards, event bags, floor tiles, and networking drinks. Budget ranges from under £3,000 to over £20,000.
3. Exhibitor Services: Additional revenue from exhibitor services including EasyGo package tiers (GoLeads, GoPlus, GoPremium) with varying Smart Badge reader allocations, webshop purchases, and premium placement options.
4. Visitor Registration: Free attendance with advance registration required. The free model drives high attendance volumes making the event attractive to exhibitors and sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lab Innovations operates the UK's only trade exhibition dedicated to the entire laboratory industry, held annually at NEC Birmingham in Hall 2. The event brings together 200+ laboratory suppliers and 4,700+ scientists, lab managers, R&D professionals and quality specialists across five conference theatres covering sustainability, AI and automation, quality and compliance, biotech, and applied innovation. Supporting offerings include the Smart Badge digital lead capture system, the My Easyfairs exhibitor portal, the Visit Connect lead generation tool, the Lab Awards ceremony, the Lab Matters podcast, and the Digital Hub content platform.

Product overview

Lab Innovations is a trade exhibition (not a software product) comprising the flagship Lab Innovations trade show event and several associated services. The core offering is the annual UK laboratory industry exhibition at NEC Birmingham featuring 200+ suppliers across analysis, digital, design, and operational support. The event is supported by five conference theatres (Live Lab, Quality Infrastructure Forum, Royal Society of Chemistry Theatre, Future of Laboratories Stage, and Biotech Hub) and the Lab Awards ceremony. Related services include the Smart Badge digital business card system, My Easyfairs exhibitor portal, Visit Connect lead generation tool, the Lab Matters podcast, the Digital Hub content platform, and the AI Industry Report. The company also organizes networking facilities including the VIP Lounge and Innovation & Sustainability Trail.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lab Awards: The Lab Awards ceremony celebrating achievements in the laboratory industry, recognizing outstanding individuals, labs, and suppliers
• Lab Matters Podcast
• colLABorate

Products and services

• Lab Innovations Trade Show The UK's only trade exhibition for the entire laboratory industry, held annually at NEC Birmingham, Hall 2, bringing together scientists, lab managers, R&D professionals, and quality specialists to discover latest technologies, attend expert-led conference sessions, and make industry connections. Free visitor attendance with advance registration required.
• Conference Theatres Five free-to-attend conference theatres at the Lab Innovations event covering Live Lab, Quality Infrastructure Forum, Royal Society of Chemistry Theatre, Future of Laboratories Stage, and Biotech Hub, featuring 60+ expert speakers on sustainability, digitalisation, quality, safety, and biotech.
• Smart Badge System Digital business card system enabling contactless lead exchange between attendees and exhibitors. Visitors tap badges on readers to automatically share contact information, and receive post-event email summaries of all stands visited.
• EasyGo Exhibitor Package Tiered exhibitor service package including Smart Badge reader allocations (GoLeads with 1 reader, GoPlus with 2, GoPremium with 3), the Visit Connect lead generation tool, and premium placement options for exhibiting companies.
• Lab Awards Annual awards ceremony celebrating achievements in the laboratory industry, recognising outstanding individuals, labs, and suppliers across categories including Outstanding Achievement, Innovator Award, Lab Technician of the Year, Rising Star, Laboratory of the Year, Supplier Excellence, and various innovation categories.
• Lab Matters Podcast Weekly podcast hosted by Harriet Gould featuring guests from across the scientific and laboratory industries discussing ideas, issues, and innovations shaping the sector. Sponsored by PolyScience.
• Digital Hub Online content platform providing industry news, press releases, blogs, podcasts, and industry reports covering lab innovations and the laboratory sector, keeping the community connected year-round.
• AI Industry Report Annual industry report exploring AI's impact on UK laboratories, covering opportunities, risks, security, accuracy, and reproducibility, authored by Royal Society of Chemistry, University of Leicester, My Green Lab, and Scientific Laboratory Supplies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,700+ attendees including scientists, lab managers, R&D professionals and quality specialists
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Society of ChemistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Society of Chemistry serves as the namesake and content partner for the Royal Society of Chemistry Theatre at Lab Innovations. The theatre hosts keynote speakers daily at 1pm and features content on automation and robotics themes. This partnership provides academic credibility and drives attendance from chemistry-focused professionals.
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKAS is a key partner powering the Quality Infrastructure Forum at Lab Innovations, along with BSI and NPL. They provide content on calibration, accreditation, and quality standards for laboratories.
• NPL (National Physical Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPL partners with Lab Innovations for the Quality Infrastructure Forum, providing expertise on measurement standards, AI operations, and quality infrastructure content for the UK laboratory community.
• BSI (British Standards Institution)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSI collaborates with Lab Innovations on the Quality Infrastructure Forum, contributing content on standards, measurement, and accreditation to help labs maintain quality and compliance.
• PolyScienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPolyScience sponsors the Lab Matters podcast with their award-winning line of temperature control equipment including chillers, water baths, and circulating baths. PolyScience has been helping labs innovate for over 60 years with products emphasizing quality, reliability, durability, and sustainability.
• SLS (Scientific Laboratory Supplies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSLS hosts the SLS Pavilion featuring pods from industry leaders including Eppendorf, Julabo, Cytiva, A&D Instruments Ltd, Azenta Life Sciences, Benchmark, C&M Scientific, LEEC Holdings Ltd, Lovibond Tintometer, and Memmert GmbH. SLS won Supplier Excellence Award 2024.
• Easyfairs GroupcoreOthersEasyfairs Group is the parent company and event organizer of Lab Innovations. Easyfairs organizes 200 face-to-face events across 14 countries and manages 8 event venues in Belgium, Netherlands, and Sweden. Ranked 17th in world's leading exhibition companies.
• Green Light LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Light Laboratories hosts and runs the Sustainable Lab feature at Lab Innovations over 2 days, providing guided tours of showcased equipment and advice on improving energy efficiency and reducing waste in labs.
• Advanced EngineeringcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvanced Engineering is co-located with Lab Innovations at NEC Birmingham (Halls 3 and 3a), enabling badge-sharing between events. This partnership expands reach to engineering and manufacturing professionals with 8,000+ additional attendees.
• UK MetalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK Metals is co-located with Lab Innovations at NEC Birmingham (Hall 4), connecting the lab industry with metals and materials specialists under one roof.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Easyfairs Group: Parent company of Lab Innovations; operates 200 face-to-face events across 14 countries. Comparable as the broad incumbent that owns and scales the Lab Innovations event within its global exhibition portfolio.
• Informa Markets: Operator of major life-science and lab-technology events (e.g., Pittcon, analytica partnerships). Comparable as a global incumbent with overlapping laboratory industry exhibitions that compete for international supplier sponsorship.
• Reed Exhibitions: One of the world's largest exhibition organizers running industry trade shows (including life sciences and lab adjacencies). Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same exhibitor marketing budgets at greater scale.
• Messe München (Analytica): Organizer of Analytica, the leading international trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis, and biotechnology. Direct comparator in the lab trade show category — same buyer and exhibitor base, global scale.

Regional players

• MA Exhibitions: UK event organizer running healthcare and life-science conferences with a UK-only geographic focus. Comparable as a regional peer running industry trade events with similar B2B monetization.

Direct peers

• ArabLab Group: Organizer of ArabLab, the Middle East's leading exhibition for laboratory technology and instrumentation. Direct peer as a regional laboratory trade show competing for global lab-supplier exhibitor marketing budgets.
• Hyve Group: UK-headquartered international trade show organizer running industry events including science and technology adjacencies. Direct peer in the B2B trade exhibition model — stand fees, sponsorship, attendee registration.
• DECHEMA (ACHEMA): Organizer of ACHEMA, a world-leading trade show for the process industries including laboratory, pharmaceutical, and chemical technology. Direct peer in lab/process trade show vertical with overlapping exhibitor base.
• PennWell (Pittcon): Organizer of Pittcon, the premier US conference and exposition on laboratory science. Direct peer as a dedicated annual laboratory-industry exhibition with conference content, exhibitor booths, and award programs.
• Clarion Events: UK-headquartered trade exhibition organizer running industry-focused shows. Comparable as a UK-based direct peer running comparable single-vertical industry trade shows with similar B2B revenue models (stand fees, sponsorship).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/labinnovations
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSP-DJBkQTucUksJmsWlDRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/labinnovations
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labinnovations
• Instagraminstagram.com/labinnovations

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Innovations