Step inside Campus Biotech in Geneva on any given Tuesday morning, and you’ll find researchers pipetting cell cultures, calibrating mass spectrometers and troubleshooting protein purification systems. Despite all the talk about digital health and AI-powered drug discovery, the reality is that biotech companies still spend most of their time working with physical materials in actual laboratories.
The demand for ready-to-use lab space has never been higher. Across Europe, the laboratory services outsourcing market is expanding at around 8% annually, driven by biotech startups that need access to specialised equipment without the massive upfront investment of building their own facilities.
The Real Needs of Modern Biotech
Talk to any biotech founder and they’ll tell you the same thing: finding the right lab space is often harder than finding the right funding. While everyone focuses on the latest AI breakthroughs, the day-to-day reality of drug discovery still requires bench space, fume hoods and access to equipment that costs hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The Lab-as-a-Service model has become critical for early and mid-stage biotech companies. Rather than spending months negotiating leases and installing equipment, startups can move into fully equipped facilities within weeks. This matters because in biotech, time often determines whether a company survives its first funding round.
Switzerland saw CHF 2.5 billion in biotech capital investment last year – a 22% increase from the previous year. Yet even with this flood of funding, companies are choosing serviced lab spaces over custom builds. The reason is simple: shared facilities let them focus on science rather than facilities management.
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Geneva has been building its life sciences credentials without the fanfare that accompanies announcements from Basel or Zurich. The Lake Geneva region now hosts over 750 life science companies, earning it the nickname ‘Health Valley’. This isn’t just marketing speak – the numbers back it up.
Switzerland has ranked first on the UN Global Innovation Index for 13 consecutive years, and much of that strength comes from its life sciences sector. The 50% increase in capital investment last year reflects growing confidence in Swiss biotech, but it also creates pressure for infrastructure that can match the ambition.
Geneva’s appeal lies in its unique position as a global health hub. The presence of the World Health Organization, alongside institutions like EPFL and the University of Geneva, creates a concentration of expertise that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. When biotech companies choose locations, they’re not just looking for lab space – they’re looking for communities that can accelerate their research.
What Superlab Suisse Offers – And Why That Matters
Superlab Suisse’s expansion to Campus Biotech represents something larger than a single company’s growth. The facility will offer private and shared lab spaces, on-demand access to scientific equipment, and full operational support including biosafety compliance and waste management. These aren’t just conveniences – they’re essential services that can make or break a biotech startup.
‘Geneva is rising as one of the most challenging life science clusters in the world,’ says Xi Zhang, founder and CEO of Superlab Suisse. ‘With global institutions, cutting-edge research and a fast-growing biotech sector, Geneva is shaping the future of life sciences – and Superlab Suisse is here to build what comes next.’
Igor Fisch, chair of FONGIT and a successful serial life sciences entrepreneur, puts it more directly: ‘We’re proud to support Superlab Suisse’s expansion to Campus Biotech, providing startups with access to world-class infrastructure.’
The practical details matter more than the promotional language. Modern shared lab spaces typically range from 20 to 100 square metres, with flexible lease terms that allow companies to scale up or down based on their research needs. Access to supplier networks and preferential rates can reduce operating costs by 20-30% compared to independent procurement.
Who Stands To Benefit
The companies that gravitate toward Lab-as-a-Service facilities share certain characteristics. They’re typically early-stage biotechs working on complex problems that require specialised equipment. They need to move quickly to prove their concepts before their funding runs out. Most importantly, they benefit from being around other companies facing similar challenges.
Campus Biotech’s focus on neuroscience, digital health and global health attracts companies working on some of the most challenging problems in medicine. The facility’s institutional partners – including EPFL, the University of Geneva, the Wyss Center and HUG – provide access to expertise that would be difficult to replicate in a standalone facility.
With all the excitement around digital health and AI, it’s easy to forget that biotech still depends on physical processes. Drug discovery requires thousands of experiments, each one generating data that needs to be interpreted and acted upon. The most sophisticated algorithms can’t replace the need for actual lab work.
Superlab Suisse’s national footprint – with facilities in Lausanne, Basel, Zurich and now Geneva – represents something important for Swiss biotech. It means that founders can access professional lab infrastructure regardless of where they choose to locate their companies. This geographic flexibility could become crucial as competition for talent intensifies across Europe.
For a sector where time to market often determines success or failure, access to the right infrastructure at the right time isn’t just convenient – it’s essential for biotech companies that need to move fast and prove their concepts quickly. For many startups, the ability to walk into a fully equipped lab and start working immediately could be the difference between success and failure.
