The Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) has introduced the 12 early-stage companies selected for its prestigious Innovation AveNEW program, set to be featured at the upcoming SLAS Europe 2026 Conference and Exhibition in May.
The SLAS Europe 2026 Innovation AveNEW startup cohort offers selected emerging life science and technology ventures sponsored exhibition space, mentorship, and a chance to compete for the SLAS Ignite Award. This program accelerates the growth of companies developing disruptive technologies, from laboratory robotics to novel therapeutic platforms, by connecting them with industry leaders, investors, and research partners.
What We Know So Far
- The Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) has selected 12 companies for its Innovation AveNEW program, according to a report from bioengineer.org.
- The selected companies will be showcased at the SLAS Europe 2026 Conference and Exhibition, which is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21 in Vienna, Austria.
- The 2026 cohort includes international startups such as 8-BOT Robotics (Germany), Chemetrian (USA), Culturon® Pty Ltd (Australia), and DaltonTX (UK), among eight others.
- Participants in the Innovation AveNEW program receive financial sponsorship for exhibition fees, travel, and lodging, in addition to business consulting and mentorship opportunities.
- According to news-medical.net, every company in the cohort is eligible to compete for the SLAS Ignite Award, which includes a €5,000 prize.
- The program aims to support emerging companies in the life sciences discovery and technology sectors by connecting them with the international scientific community.
Who are the SLAS Europe 2026 Innovation AveNEW Companies?
The 12 companies in the SLAS Europe 2026 Innovation AveNEW startup cohort hail from Germany, the USA, Australia, the UK, France, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, and the Netherlands, showcasing diverse technological advancements. This international composition highlights key innovation hubs and the global nature of life sciences R&D.
Among the highlighted companies is 8-BOT Robotics from Germany, which specializes in developing automated liquid handling systems. Their technology aims to increase throughput and precision in laboratory settings, addressing a critical need for efficiency and reproducibility in high-throughput screening (HTS) and drug discovery workflows. By automating repetitive pipetting tasks, they seek to free up valuable researcher time for more complex analytical work.
From the United States, Chemetrian develops novel analytical chemistry tools that enhance the speed and accuracy of chemical measurements. These technologies have broad applications in pharmaceutical development, environmental testing, and diagnostics, driving life sciences innovation.
Australian startup Culturon® Pty Ltd develops advanced cell culture technologies to create more physiologically relevant in vitro environments. These innovations improve the predictive accuracy of drug testing, advance regenerative medicine, reduce reliance on animal testing, and accelerate new therapy development.
The United Kingdom's DaltonTX focuses on therapeutic platforms. While specific details of their technology are emerging, their inclusion signals a commitment to creating new treatment modalities and developing next-generation drugs for complex diseases.
The full cohort of 12 companies includes: 8-BOT Robotics (Germany), Chemetrian (USA), Culturon® Pty Ltd (Australia), DaltonTX (UK), fastinov (France), Labbox (Spain), micro-p (Switzerland), NADMED (Finland), PEPperPRINT GmbH (Germany), Scinus Cell Expansion B.V. (Netherlands), SiLA Consortium (Switzerland), and XDemics (USA).
Disruptive Life Science Technologies at SLAS Europe 2026
The Innovation AveNEW cohort showcases technologies reflecting dominant trends in life sciences and venture capital: automation, data analytics, and advanced biologics. These central themes highlight the industry's shift towards more efficient, precise, and personalized approaches to research and healthcare, indicating where early-stage investment and innovation are focused.
Vicki Loise, the Chief Executive Officer of SLAS, emphasized the organization's commitment to fostering this innovation. "SLAS has always prioritized providing life sciences technology start-ups with the invaluable market access, user feedback and business counsel to grow and scale their business," she stated. Loise added, "Supporting innovative companies with these critical tools and services is a key part of the SLAS mission, to catalyze multidisciplinary innovation across the sector." This perspective frames the program not just as a showcase, but as a strategic initiative to build the next generation of industry leaders.
The value of this access is echoed by past participants. Colin Cook, Co-Founder and CTO of XDemics, a member of the 2026 cohort, described the environment as having "an intense buzz on Innovation AveNEW with constant engagement from potential customers, executives, and researchers eager to explore new innovations." He noted the practical business impact, stating, "The connections forged here are reshaping our business approach and marketing strategy within the high-throughput screening (HTS) space." This firsthand account illustrates the program's role as a catalyst for commercial strategy and market validation.
The inclusion of NADMED, focused on metabolic analysis, and PEPperPRINT, a leader in peptide microarray technology, diversifies the cohort's technological footprint. These startups provide tools enabling deeper biological insights, essential for developing targeted therapies and diagnostic markers in modern drug discovery.
What Happens Next
The immediate future for the 12 selected companies is focused on preparing for the SLAS Europe 2026 Conference and Exhibition. The event, running from May 19 to 21 in Vienna, Austria, will be their primary stage to connect with the thousands of scientists, engineers, and business leaders in attendance. During the conference, these startups will exhibit their technologies on a dedicated section of the show floor, known as Innovation AveNEW.
A key event during the conference will be the competition for the SLAS Ignite Award. Each of the 12 cohort members is automatically eligible to compete. The award recognizes the company with the most promising technology or business plan, providing not only prestige but also a €5,000 prize to support further development. The judging process will offer another opportunity for the startups to pitch their vision to a panel of experts.
Beyond the conference, the connections made in Vienna are expected to have a lasting impact. The goal of the program is to foster long-term relationships that can lead to strategic partnerships, customer acquisitions, and follow-on funding rounds. The mentorship and consulting provided as part of the Innovation AveNEW package are designed to help these companies capitalize on the opportunities that arise from the event. The industry will be watching to see which of these startups secure funding or announce major collaborations in the months following the conference, as these outcomes will be the ultimate measure of the program's success.
