What Labena does

Labena d.o.o. is a privately held, family-owned Slovenian laboratory solutions provider founded in 1993 in Ljubljana, employing 120+ staff across six Central and Eastern European countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro). The company operates an integrated "idea-to-discovery" stack spanning laboratory equipment distribution and servicing (acting as official CEE distributor for manufacturers such as Evident Scientific), GMP-certified contract research services through its wholly owned BIA Separations CRO subsidiary (accredited by EMA and FDA, with a 1700+ m² facility in Ljubljana), laboratory furniture design and manufacturing via subsidiary Kvadrilab d.o.o., bioinformatics services, environmental DNA analysis (eDNA Labs), clinical diagnostics (BIA Genetics), and the Labena Ventures startup accelerator program.

The company's technology backbone combines third-party laboratory instrumentation (PCR, ddPCR, NGS, single-cell sequencing, XRF, microscopy) with proprietary analytical workflows including a single-cell gene sequencing service, the OptiFood4Fish machine-learning algorithm for aquaculture feed optimization, the PredicTest predictive biomarker quantification test, and in-house bioinformatics pipelines. Core technical infrastructure includes GMP-compliant analytical laboratories, an Ambr 250 high-throughput bioreactor system with 24 bioreactors for upstream/downstream bioprocess development, and advanced chromatography and biophysical analytics instruments.

Labena monetizes through multiple revenue streams: hardware resale and recurring service contracts on equipment; fee-for-service analytical testing under EMA/FDA GMP standards; project-based CRO/CDMO contracts; one-time lab furniture sales and installation; bioinformatics data analysis services; and accelerator/advisory fees via Labena Ventures. The company serves pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, food and beverage producers, research institutes, clinical and hospital laboratories, veterinary operators, aquaculture businesses, and government/health authorities. Customer concentration spans a broad reference list including major regional hospitals, universities, food producers (Vindija, Sano), and pharma companies, with growing exposure to advanced therapy medicinal product developers.

Name

Labena

Legal name

Trgovaško podjetje Labena d.o.o.

Website

https://labena.si

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Labena is a Slovenia-based, family-owned laboratory solutions group (120+ staff, 6 CEE countries) providing equipment distribution, GMP-certified CRO analytical services, lab furniture manufacturing, bioinformatics, and eDNA analysis to pharmaceutical, biotech, food, clinical, and research customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Services and Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Central Laboratory & Clinical Trial Testing CROs (HLAGAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL), Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease) (HLAGAAAL), Clinical Data Management, Biostatistics & Statistical Programming CROs (HLAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Laboratory equipment distribution
• Contract research services
• Pharmaceutical analytical testing
• Bioinformatics data analysis
• Laboratory furniture manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ljubljana

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Equipment Distribution and Servicing: Distribution, servicing, and application support of highly specialized laboratory, production, and process equipment for pharmaceutical, food, and materials industries, research institutes, and academia. Includes 30+ years of market experience and international network.
2. Contract Research Organization (CRO) Services: GMP-certified analytical services for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Services include analytical testing, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, bioinformatics, and microbiology. Over 1700 m² facility in Ljubljana serving EMA and FDA regulated markets.
3. Laboratory Furniture Manufacturing: Design, manufacturing, and installation of laboratory furniture through subsidiary Kvadrilab d.o.o. Serves laboratories, hospitals, research institutes, and educational institutions.
4. Bioinformatics Services: Statistical and bioinformatics services for processing large datasets from sequencing including study planning, pipeline development, data analysis, visualization, and interpretation.
5. Environmental DNA (eDNA) Analysis: Environmental DNA analysis service and R&D laboratory providing rapid organism detection and ecosystem health assessment.
6. R&D Project Services: Research and development project management, EU funding consultation, and contractual relationships with manufacturers in high-tech research and development.
7. Clinical Diagnostics: Clinical diagnostics based on translational medicine for hospitals, public health institutions, academic and research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials.
8. Labena Ventures: Corporate accelerator program for biotech, health tech, and pharma innovations in Central and Eastern Europe, providing advisory services.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Labena distributes, services, and provides application support for specialized laboratory, production, and process equipment to pharmaceutical, biotech, food, materials, research, and clinical laboratory customers. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries it also delivers GMP-certified contract research organization (CRO) analytical services, bioinformatics and eDNA analysis, clinical diagnostics, and custom laboratory furniture design and manufacturing, integrated end-to-end as 'laboratory solutions from idea to discovery.'

Product overview

Labena Group operates as a diversified laboratory solutions provider with four main business pillars: (1) Laboratory equipment distribution, servicing, and application support across seven categories (Food Safety, Life Science, Medical Programs, Veterinary, Clinical Diagnostics, Material Science, and Consumables); (2) Contract research services via BIA Separations CRO offering GMP-certified analytical services, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, bioinformatics, and bioprocess development; (3) Laboratory and business interior consulting, design, and furniture manufacturing through subsidiary Kvadrilab d.o.o.; and (4) Labena Ventures startup accelerator program. The company also operates eDNA Labs for environmental DNA analysis and BIA Genetics for clinical diagnostics. Key products include specialized equipment for food safety, life science research (PCR, sequencing, proteomics), medical diagnostics (SelectMDx, MammaPrint, Bladder Epicheck), and bioinformatics services powered by NGS data processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nobula: Labena's laboratory information management system or software brand mentioned in website branding.

Products and services

• BIA Separations CRO GMP-certified contract research organization providing analytical services for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), finished dosage forms (FDF), technological excipients, and in-process samples, accredited by EMA and FDA, operating from over 1,700 m² in Ljubljana; serves pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers globally.
• eDNA Labs Wholly owned laboratory in Zagreb providing environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis service and R&D for rapid detection of organism presence and relative abundance using advanced molecular and analytical methods; serves biodiversity researchers, aquaculture operators, and environmental monitoring clients.
• Labena Ventures Startup accelerator program launched in 2023 focused on global expansion of breakthrough innovations in biotechnology, health technology, and pharma in Central and Eastern Europe; provides advisory and consulting services to portfolio startups.
• Kvadrilab Laboratory Furniture Subsidiary Kvadrilab d.o.o. designs, manufactures, and installs high-quality, durable laboratory furniture for laboratories, hospitals, medical facilities, research institutes, and educational institutions, including ergonomic and chemical-resistant solutions.
• BIA Genetics Clinical Diagnostics Clinical diagnostic laboratory in Zagreb offering clinical diagnostics based on translational medicine, including molecular biology, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics for hospitals, public health institutions, and pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials.
• OptiFood4Fish Predictive Algorithm Machine learning web tool that predicts how fish feeding quantity relative to time of year and sea temperature impacts eutrophic organism growth in mariculture, helping fish farms reduce overfeeding and feed costs.
• Laboratory Solutions for Pharmaceutical Industry Comprehensive GMP-compliant analytical services for pharmaceutical industry covering protocol design, analytical testing, and compliance with EMA and FDA guidelines for API, FDF, excipients, and in-process samples.
• Bioinformatics Services Statistical and bioinformatics services for processing large volumes of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, including study planning, pipeline development, data analysis, interactive visualization, and data interpretation.
• Research and Development Services Registered research group providing research project management, EU funding consultation, and contractual R&D arrangements with manufacturers for high-technology life sciences projects.
• Bioprocess Development and Characterization Services Process development, characterization, and optimization services for biologics manufacturing using Ambr 250 high-throughput bioreactors and advanced chromatographic systems for upstream and downstream purification and GMP analytical release.
• Evident Scientific Product Distribution Authorized distribution across CEE of Evident Scientific instruments including microscopes (upright, inverted, confocal, multiphoton, digital), XRF analyzers, and industrial inspection systems built on more than 100 years of optical expertise, including installation, training, and service.
• Life Science Equipment Distribution Distribution and application support for life science research equipment including PCR, RT-qPCR, ddPCR systems, cell biology and biochemistry tools, proteomics/protein purification, single-cell sequencing, and spatial biology platforms (Visium, Xenium).
• Food Safety and Control Equipment Distribution Distribution of food analysis and quality control instruments including FTIR/NIR chemical analyzers, MAP inspection systems, leak detectors, water activity meters, toxin/antibiotic/pesticide analyzers, and food/water microbiology solutions.
• Medical Diagnostic Programs Distribution of medical and predictive diagnostics built on the MESI modular system, including SelectMDx (prostate cancer biomarker test), MammaPrint (70-gene breast cancer recurrence test), and Bladder Epicheck (bladder tumor detection test).
• Service and Maintenance Support Maintenance, repair, and upgrade services for installed laboratory equipment including testing, calibration, installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), instrument validation, and verification procedures across CEE.
• Application Support Expert application support covering user needs assessment, equipment configuration, problem diagnosis, result interpretation, procedure optimization, and protocol recommendations for installed laboratory instruments.
• Labena Academy Education program providing workshops and on-site customer training on laboratory processes, instrument operation, and the use of Labena services and technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Feed cost reduction - fish feed represents 50% of all fish farming costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fundacija CTNNB1 (CTNNB1 Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Non-profit foundation developing gene therapy for children with CTNNB1 syndrome. Labena supported preclinical testing and clinical batch efficacy testing using ddPCR analysis, contributing to JAZMP approval for clinical trial commencement.
• SPIRIT SlovenijacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Public agency for investment promotion, entrepreneurship, and internationalization that provided key support for Labena's bioprocess development capabilities expansion project (CDMO investment).
• Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport of Republic of SloveniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Government ministry that provided support for Labena's bioprocess development capabilities expansion project. Project selected for co-financing under public investment call for promoting high investments for productivity and competitiveness.
• Algen d.o.o.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2022Consortium partner in OptiFood4Fish project (2022-2024) focused on developing predictive test service for optimizing fish feeding in mariculture using machine learning algorithms and NGS-based bioindicator identification.
• Kornati Ittica, HRminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022Associated partner in eDNA4Fish project (Eurostars 3 program) for developing molecular service for rapid fish pathogen detection in aquaculture using environmental DNA analysis.
• AGENDA d.o.o., NETIS d.o.o., FORWARD d.o.o.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Consortium partners in Single Cell Gene Sequencing (SC-Seq) project (1,951,862.61 EUR total) developing optimized single cell gene expression analysis service for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Project funded by Slovenia Recovery and Resilience plan.
• Evident ScientificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial distributor of Evident Scientific products in CEE region, offering complete range of advanced scientific instruments including microscopes, XRF analyzers, and inspection systems built on over 100 years of optical expertise.
• European Medicines Agency (EMA)coreOthersCRO laboratory certified by EMA for GMP-compliant pharmaceutical analytical services. BIA Separations CRO received EMA certification for drug testing services.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)coreOthersCRO laboratory operates under FDA (NAI) guidelines. BIA Separations CRO certified for conducting pharmaceutical testing compliant with US FDA requirements.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Medicover: Healthcare and diagnostics services company operating across CEE including Poland, Romania, Germany, and the Balkans. Overlaps with Labena's clinical diagnostics services and CEE-focused service delivery model.
• Synlab: European medical diagnostics provider with extensive CEE footprint (Germany, France, Italy, and emerging European markets). Comparable to BIA Genetics clinical diagnostics arm and Labena's regional laboratory services model across Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Avantor (VWR): Global distributor and manufacturer of laboratory products, equipment, and consumables serving biopharma, healthcare, and research customers. Directly comparable to Labena's equipment distribution, application support, and laboratory furniture businesses at a much larger scale.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with broad life sciences and food testing services. Comparable to Labena's food safety, materials testing, and pharmaceutical analytical services. SGS d.o.o. is also a Labena customer (laboratory furniture reference).
• Intertek: Global quality assurance and testing services company serving pharma, food, and materials sectors. Comparable to Labena's commercial physical and biological research services and analytical testing offerings.
• Charles River Laboratories: Global CRO providing discovery, safety assessment, and manufacturing support to pharma and biotech. Directly comparable to BIA Separations CRO's GMP analytical and biologics development services, particularly in cell and gene therapy support.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in bioanalytical testing, pharmaceutical services, and clinical diagnostics operating across 60+ countries. Comparable to Labena as a multi-segment testing and CRO platform serving pharma, food, and clinical end markets, though at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Sartorius: Manufacturer of bioprocess equipment, bioreactors, and laboratory consumables serving pharma and biotech. Comparable to Labena's bioprocess development services (Ambr 250 bioreactor systems, upstream/downstream process development) and life science equipment distribution.
• Shimadzu: Manufacturer of analytical instruments, chromatography, and mass spectrometry systems for pharma, food, and materials testing. Comparable to Labena's analytical instrument distribution and CRO analytical services. Shimadzu d.o.o. is also a Labena customer reference.
• Eppendorf: Manufacturer and supplier of laboratory equipment for life sciences including pipettes, centrifuges, bioreactors, and consumables. Comparable to Labena's laboratory consumables and general equipment distribution category and bioprocess development offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labena

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Labena