What The Society For Experimental Biology does

The Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) is a UK-based non-profit scientific society established in 1953 and headquartered at Lancaster University. It operates as a learned society serving the international experimental biology research community across cell, plant, and animal biology disciplines, with 2,500+ members organized into 23 special interest groups spanning four sections: Animal, Cell, Plant, and Outreach, Education and Diversity (OED). The society is governed by trustees and owned/operated by its membership, with no parent company.

SEB's core assets are its journal portfolio and annual convening programs. It owns or co-owns five peer-reviewed journals: Plant Biotechnology Journal (impact factor 10.5, co-owned with Association of Applied Biologists and Wiley), The Plant Journal (impact factor 5.7, co-owned with Wiley), Journal of Experimental Botany (impact factor 5.7, wholly owned by SEB since 1950), Conservation Physiology (impact factor 2.5, co-owned with Oxford University Press), and Plant Direct. These journals are distributed through publishing partnerships with Wiley and Oxford University Press, with combined annual downloads exceeding 10 million articles and over 1,800 papers published in 2023. SEB also runs an Annual Conference (Florence 2026 expected ~1,000 attendees), a grants and awards program (up to £100,000 disbursed annually), career development and mentoring services, and the recently launched Living Biology podcast (June 2026).

SEB's revenue model combines recurring membership subscriptions from scientists and institutions, conference and event registration fees, journal publishing revenue share from Wiley and OUP partnerships, and tiered sponsorship/exhibition revenue (Gold/Silver/Bronze packages) from scientific instrumentation and publishing companies. All journal profits are reinvested into the scientific community through grants, awards, conferences, and member services. Pricing for membership and conference registration is not publicly disclosed, though conference childcare pricing (£10-£30 per half day session) and award prize amounts (£100-£400) are published. The society serves a global scientific community across 100+ countries, with no disclosed geographic restrictions on membership or journal access.

Name

The Society For Experimental Biology

Legal name

The Society for Experimental Biology

Website

https://sebiology.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Society for Experimental Biology is a UK-based non-profit scientific society serving 2,500+ experimental biology researchers worldwide through five peer-reviewed journals, an annual international conference, a grants program, awards, and career development resources across cell, plant, and animal biology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Scientific Publishing and Society Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Sciences (Biology, Ecology, Agriculture) Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD), Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)

Keywords

• Scientific publishing
• Membership society
• Plant biology research
• Experimental biology
• Scientific conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: SEB generates revenue through annual membership fees from scientists, researchers, students, and institutions across 23 special interest groups. Membership provides access to journals, grants, awards, conferences, and professional development resources.
2. Conference and Event Fees: The society organizes annual conferences (Florence 2026, Prague 2024, Montpellier, etc.) generating revenue through registration fees. Conferences include scientific sessions, workshops, exhibitions, and networking events across animal, cell, and plant biology sections.
3. Journal Publishing Revenue Share: SEB receives income from journal publishing partnerships with Wiley and Oxford University Press. The society owns or co-owns journals including Plant Biotechnology Journal (SEB, AAB, Wiley), The Plant Journal (SEB, Wiley), Journal of Experimental Botany (SEB), and Conservation Physiology (SEB, OUP). All profits are reinvested into the scientific community.
4. Grants Administration: SEB administers grant funding (up to £100,000 per year) to support members attending conferences, gaining research experience, and organizing events. While the grants are distributed to members, administrative oversight represents a core society function.
5. Sponsorship and Exhibition Revenue: The annual conference generates sponsorship revenue through Gold, Silver, Bronze sponsorship tiers and exhibition booth fees. Sponsors include scientific instrumentation companies, publishers, and biotech firms targeting the experimental biology research community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SEB operates a portfolio of five peer-reviewed scientific journals in plant biology and experimental biology (Plant Biotechnology Journal, The Plant Journal, Journal of Experimental Botany, Conservation Physiology, Plant Direct), published in partnership with Wiley and Oxford University Press. The society hosts an annual scientific conference (e.g., Florence 2026), administers grant funding of up to £100,000 per year, runs awards and recognition programs, and provides career development resources, mentoring, and digital content including the Living Biology podcast for its 2,500+ members across 23 special interest groups.

Product overview

The Society for Experimental Biology operates a portfolio of scientific journals and provides member services including conferences, grants, and career development support. The core product portfolio consists of five journals: Plant Biotechnology Journal (open access, published by Wiley), The Plant Journal (hybrid open-access, published by Wiley), Journal of Experimental Botany (SEB's longest-running journal, published by Oxford University Press), Conservation Physiology (open access, published by Oxford University Press), and Plant Direct. These journals are complemented by the SEB Annual Conference (3-day event in Florence 2026), the Living Biology podcast, SEB Magazine, a grants and funding program (up to £100,000/year), career development resources, and outreach/education materials. The society reinvests journal profits into community activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Biology: The official SEB podcast exploring frontiers of experimental biology through in-depth conversations with scientists
• Journal of Experimental Botany
• The Plant Journal
• Conservation Physiology
• Plant Biotechnology Journal
• SEB Annual Conference

Products and services

• Plant Biotechnology Journal (PBJ) An open access journal publishing high-impact original research and incisive reviews on molecular plant sciences and applications through plant biotechnology, for the international plant science research community.
• The Plant Journal (TPJ) A hybrid open-access journal providing a dynamic forum for the international plant sciences research community, publishing original research articles, technical advances, and resource articles across all key areas of plant biology.
• Journal of Experimental Botany (JXB) A high-quality, community-focused journal for research and reviews across plant sciences, 100% owned by SEB and published in partnership with Oxford University Press.
• Conservation Physiology An online-only, open access journal publishing research on all taxa focused on understanding and predicting how organisms, populations, ecosystems, and natural resources respond to environmental change and stressors.
• SEB Annual Conference Annual international conference bringing together biologists from around the world for scientific sessions spanning animal, cell, and plant biology, and outreach, education and diversity (OED), featuring networking opportunities, poster sessions, awards, workshops, and exhibitions.
• Grants and Funding Program Grant funding program offering up to £100,000 per year to support members' career ambitions, including conference attendance grants, research experience grants, and event sponsorship.
• SEB Magazine The society's magazine covering news, features, and articles exploring topics across experimental biology, published regularly and available on-demand.
• Living Biology Podcast SEB's official podcast launched in June 2026, exploring frontiers of experimental biology through conversations with scientists across disciplines including plant biology, animal physiology, and emerging biotechnologies.
• Career Development Resources Resources and support for career development including workshops, talks, mentoring schemes, job listings, and resources for undergraduates and students.
• Outreach and Education Resources Teaching resources, public resources, biology practicals for higher education, and outreach programs to promote science engagement and education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Journal Impact Factor 10.5 for Plant Biotechnology Journal (rank 8/273 in Plant Sciences)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WileycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWiley is the publisher for Plant Biotechnology Journal (co-owned with SEB and Association of Applied Biologists) and The Plant Journal (co-owned with SEB). Wiley handles production, distribution, and online hosting while SEB maintains editorial control and ownership stake.
• Oxford University Press (OUP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOUP publishes Journal of Experimental Botany (100% owned by SEB) and Conservation Physiology (jointly owned with SEB). SEB profits from these journals are reinvested into the scientific community.
• Association of Applied Biologists (AAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAB is co-owner of Plant Biotechnology Journal alongside SEB and Wiley, contributing to the journal's editorial direction and scientific scope in applied plant science.
• NipperboutminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAward-winning event childcare company providing crèche facilities at SEB Annual Conferences. Nipperbout has received Ofsted 'Outstanding' rating every year since 2005 and provides qualified staff for children aged 0-12 years during conferences.
• The Company of BiologistsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNot-for-profit publishing organization exhibiting at SEB Annual Conference. Publishes Journal of Experimental Biology and supports the scientific community through grants and travel fellowships.
• Royal Society PublishingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNot-for-profit society publisher exhibiting at SEB Annual Conference. Publishes leading journals including Philosophical Transactions and Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
• The Royal SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Royal Society sponsors the Young Scientist Awards (YSAS) program, providing additional prestige and support for early career researchers in experimental biology.
• Global Plant CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative webinar hosting partnership with The Plant Journal on plant science topics including receptor signalling research and plant structural biology.
• Saclay Plant Sciences (SPS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSEB recommends and promotes the International SPS Symposium 2026 organized by one of Europe's largest plant science communities, taking place in Versailles, France.
• IPK Leibniz-Institute GaterslebenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for Nitrogen 2026 symposium (Sixth International Symposium on Nitrogen Nutrition of Plants) co-organized/co-promoted by SEB in Gatersleben, Germany.
• PyroScienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman instrumentation company specializing in opto-chemical sensor solutions for oxygen, pH and temperature measurement. Proudly sponsors the EcoMito Symposium at SEB Florence 2026.
• Star-OddiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIcelandic company (founded 1985) manufacturing small sensors and data loggers for environmental and life sciences. Proudly sponsors the Insights and Tools From Biologging For Conservation Physiology session.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB): US-based society publishing Molecular Biology of the Cell and running an annual meeting. Overlaps SEB's Cell biology section on the publishing and conference side while operating at larger scale.
• Royal Society of Biology: UK umbrella body for the life sciences, providing membership, accreditation, and policy advocacy. Adjacent rather than directly publishing, but operates as a learned-society convener in the same British biology ecosystem as SEB.
• Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS): Europe-wide umbrella body for national biochemistry and molecular biology societies, publishing FEBS Journal and FEBS Letters and running the FEBS Congress. Larger geographic scope than SEB with overlapping publishing and conference business.

Direct peers

• Society for Developmental Biology: US-based society publishing Developmental Biology and running an annual meeting. Comparable scientific society with journal ownership, conference, awards, and member services focused on a related experimental biology discipline.
• Biochemical Society: UK-based non-profit scientific society publishing Biochemical Journal, Clinical Science, and related titles, with membership, conferences, grants, and awards. Same scale, same UK base, same learned-society-plus-publishing operating model as SEB.
• British Ecological Society (BES): UK-based learned society publishing five ecology journals and running an annual meeting. Operates with the same member-owned, journal-funded, conference-and-grants service model as SEB and serves as a structural comparable on operating costs and revenue mix.
• The Company of Biologists: UK-based non-profit publishing organization that operates the Journal of Experimental Biology, Development, Journal of Cell Science, Disease Models & Mechanisms, and Biology Open. It is the closest direct peer to SEB in scale, model, and discipline mix, and explicitly exhibits at SEB's Annual Conference as a fellow community publisher.
• American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB): US-based scientific society that publishes Plant Cell and Plant Physiology, the two most established plant-science society journals. ASPB is the most direct international peer to SEB in the plant-biology publishing niche where SEB's TPJ, JXB, and PBJ compete for authors and readership.
• Genetics Society (UK): UK-based learned society publishing Heredity, Genes & Development, and other journals, providing membership services, conferences, grants, and awards. Operates a similar non-profit learned-society model to SEB across a related life-sciences discipline.

Others

• Oxford University Press (Academic Publishing Division): Distribution and co-publishing partner of SEB for JXB and Conservation Physiology and a much larger academic publisher in its own right. Listed as an 'other' because OUP is both a partner and a broader publisher whose strategic decisions directly affect SEB's revenue share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SEBiology
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnxqUMNr8pM-A5CknEERJAA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Society-for-Experimental-Biology-166761543400758
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-for-experimental-biology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Society For Experimental Biology