Lab Spaces

At Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area – Main Campus, we offer both private and shared lab facilities. The majority of labs are private labs, which are fully furnished and customizable spaces tailored to the unique needs of our residents.  

The shared lab area (in total about 150 m2) offers a modern laboratory infrastructure and is fully equipped with various instruments needed for biotech research. 

The private lab residents may have access to the shared lab, depending on their needs, but may only use certain equipment there. 

In contrast, shared lab residents exclusively use the shared lab area, where they have their own bench and full access to all equipment.  

This setup ensures that all residents, whether private or shared, have access to the resources they need to conduct their research effectively. 

Private labs at Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area are best suited for expanding small to medium size biotech and medtech companies and start-ups. 

These companies often require: 

• Customized lab setups to meet their unique research and development requirements. 
• Larger spaces to accommodate their teams and equipment. 
• Specialized facilities for advanced research and testing. 
• Strict control over their laboratory environment. 
• Flexibility to customize their workspace according to their evolving needs. 

By offering fully furnished and customizable labs ranging from 20 to 100 m², Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area caters to the diverse needs of these companies. Whether they’re in biotech, medtech, or other life sciences fields, private labs at Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area Main Campus provide the infrastructure and flexibility these companies need to thrive.

If you’re a small biotech startup, especially if you’re starting out, have limited funding, and need to conduct initial experiments, a shared lab might be the right fit for you. Startups benefit from access to modern laboratory infrastructure without the high costs associated with setting up and maintaining their own facilities. By utilizing the shared lab, the startups can allocate their limited resources more efficiently towards research and development. 

Additionally, companies with a private lab at the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area Main Campus often utilize part of the shared lab infrastructure to complement their own lab. This allows them to expand their capabilities, collaborate with other residents, and access specialized equipment that may not be available in their own facilities. By leveraging the shared lab, these companies can enhance their research efforts and foster innovation within their organizations. 

Companies with a private lab at the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area – Main Campus often utilize part of the shared lab infrastructure to complement their own lab. This allows them to expand their capabilities and collaboration with other residents, and access specialized equipment that may not be available in their own facilities. By leveraging the shared lab, these companies can enhance their research efforts and foster innovation within their organizations. 

The shared lab within the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area Main Campus offers significant cost-saving opportunities for biotech-focused startups. By providing modern infrastructure and essential resources, our shared lab reduces the financial burden associated with setting up and maintaining a fully equipped laboratory. Here’s how: 

• Access to State-of-the-Art Equipment: Our shared lab provides access to cutting-edge equipment and facilities, eliminating the need for costly investments in specialized instruments and associated maintenance duties. 
• Flexible Lease Options: We offer flexible lease agreements tailored to suit the evolving needs of tenants residents. Whether you require short-term access for a specific project or long-term residency, our shared lab spaces can accommodate your requirements without locking you into lengthy contracts. This flexibility minimizes financial risks associated with uncertain research timelines or fluctuating funding. 
• Networking opportunities: In addition to cost savings, our shared lab fosters collaboration and networking among resident companies, potentially leading to cost-sharing initiatives, joint projects, and access to funding opportunities. 

Overall, by utilizing our shared lab, startups can significantly reduce their operational costs, allowing them to allocate more resources to research, development, and scaling their innovations. 

The shared lab at Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area is organized to accommodate the diverse needs of biotech-focused startups. Here’s how it’s structured: 

• Renting Benches: Companies can rent one or multiple benches within the shared lab to perform experimental work. These workspaces are equipped with basic utilities and infrastructure necessary for biochemistry and molecular biology lab work. 
• Equipment Rooms: Adjacent to the lab, there are equipment rooms housing a wide range of basic equipment essential for various laboratory procedures. This includes centrifuges, PCR machines, spectrophotometers, and more. 
• Designated Cell Culture Room: We provide access to a designated cell culture room that adheres to Biosafety Level (BSL) 2 standards. This room is fully equipped for cell biology work, including laminar flow hoods, CO2 incubators, cell counter, and microscopy equipment. 
• Storage Facilities: The shared lab offers storage rooms for consumables and reagents, ensuring easy access to necessary supplies. Additionally, there are facilities for cold storage, autoclaving, and dishwashing to support daily laboratory operations. 
• Lab coordination: The Switzerland Innovation Park team takes care of lab coordination to ensure the functionality of the laboratory and the well-being of its residents. 

Overall, our shared lab is designed to provide startups with a convenient and fully equipped environment to conduct their research. The flexible lease options ensure that companies can scale their operations as needed without being tied down by rigid contracts. 

The shared lab at Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area offers a comprehensive range of equipment to support the diverse needs of biotech -focused startups. Here’s an overview of the equipment available: 

• Basic Laboratory Equipment: This includes essential tools such as centrifuges, , thermomixers, orbital shakers, rockers balances, pipettes, and pH meters, which are fundamental for a wide range of biological and chemical analyses. 
• Cell Culture Facility: 

• Multiple safety cabinets (up to BSL-2 safety levels) 
• Shakers and incubators for bacterial and mammalian cell cultures 
• Microscopes 
• Cell counter 
• Bead bath 

• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry: 

• PCR and qPCR machines 
• Plate reader 
• Imaging stations 
• Electrophoresis and blotting equipment 
• Fluorometer 

• Chemistry and Analytical Instruments: 

• HPLCs (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) 
• Rotary evaporator (Rotavap) 
• Chemical hoods 

• Supporting Facilities and Services: 

• Cleaning service 
• Waste management 

• Lab glassware washer 
• Autoclaves 
• Ice machine 

• Media: 

• Carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, compressed air, deionized, and purified water 
• Liquid nitrogen and dry ice 

• Safety installations:  

• Eyewash stations 
• Emergency showers 

• Storage 

• Cold storage units (+4°C, -20°C, -80°C), including backup solutions 
• Storage space for lab consumables, solvent, and chemical storage 

With this extensive array of equipment and facilities, startups have access to everything they need to conduct experiments, analyze data, and advance their research. The shared lab ensures that companies can focus on their scientific endeavors without worrying about the logistical challenges of equipment procurement and maintenance.

If you need an instrument that is not part of the shared lab, there are several options available. Other residents with private labs might be willing to share equipment, and we encourage this collaboration. Additionally, we have partnerships within the Basel innovation ecosystem, such as universities, where instruments may be available for use. Users may also bring in their own instruments depending on space availability. Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area assists in finding solutions and coordinating these efforts to meet the needs of our residents. 

Confidentiality is indeed a paramount concern for Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, particularly when it comes to protecting the intellectual property (IP) of our resident companies. Here’s how we address confidentiality concerns in our shared lab environment: 

• Nondisclosure Agreements (NDAs): All users of the shared lab are required to sign nondisclosure agreements. These agreements outline the terms and conditions regarding the use, handling, and disclosure of confidential data, ensuring that all parties involved understand their obligations to maintain confidentiality. 

• Secure access: Access to the shared lab is restricted only to authorized personnel from resident companies. Each company is provided with unique access credentials, ensuring that only approved individuals can enter the lab space. 
• Designated work areas: Companies have designated work areas within the shared lab, ensuring that each team can work independently without interference from others. This setup minimizes the risk of accidental exposure to confidential information. 
• Regular communication and collaboration: Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area actively promotes interaction and collaboration among shared lab users through regular meetings and networking events. This fosters a sense of community and encourages open communication while reinforcing the importance of respecting each other’s confidentiality. 
• Ethical and professional standards: Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area promotes a culture of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct among tenants. Researchers are expected to adhere to ethical guidelines, scientific integrity principles, and industry best practices to maintain confidentiality and respect the intellectual property rights of others within the shared lab community. 

By implementing these measures, Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area ensures that startups can utilize the shared lab facilities without compromising the confidentiality of their intellectual property. 

Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area takes full responsibility for the maintenance and repairs of the lab equipment provided within the shared lab. Our team ensures that all equipment is regularly serviced and maintained to optimal working condition. In the event of any malfunctions or breakdowns, we promptly address the issue to minimize downtime for resident companies. This arrangement allows startups to focus on their research and experiments without worrying about the upkeep of the equipment.

In the shared lab, we offer a total of eight workstations for rent. We have three biosafety cabinets in the cell culture area. With an area of more than 150 m2, the shared lab space offers enough space for residents to feel comfortable. 

Typically, 4 to 8 scientists work in a private lab of 60 m2. 

Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area does not stock common lab supplies or consumables. It is the responsibility of each company to supply and manage their own inventory. 

In the Shared Lab, space allocation is structured to meet the needs of resident companies: 

• Bench: Each company rents their own bench in the shared lab, providing flexibility in usage. 
• Cold Storage Units: Companies are provided with one refrigerator and one freezer for storing reagents, samples, etc.  
• -80°C Freezer: Companies are allocated one rack within the -80°C freezer. This rack space is exclusively for the company’s use to store their samples at ultra-low temperatures.  
• Incubators: Depending on availability, Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area Main Campus provides one incubator per company. Alternatively, each company is allocated space within the incubators for samples or cultures.  
• Storage: Designated storage spaces are provided for lab consumables. Resident companies can store their consumables in shared compartments within the lab.  

Overall, Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area offers flexibility to accommodate additional space requirements based on availability and specific needs at no extra cost whenever possible, ensuring companies have adequate storage while minimizing costs.

We have a booking system in place for instrument scheduling. Additionally, we hold regular meetings to foster communication and plan instrument usage between residents. The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area team helps to coordinate these efforts. 

Before starting work in the lab, it’s important to obtain the necessary regulatory permissions:  

Ensure you obtain permits or certifications required by government regulatory entities. This includes a permit from the “Kantonales Amt für Industrie, Gewerbe und Arbeit (KIGA)”. 

If you’re working with genetically modified organisms, alien organisms subject to compulsory containment or pathogenic organisms (up to BSL-2), register your activities with the Federal Coordination Centre for Biotechnology. 

Periodic biosafety inspections will be conducted by the “Amt für Umweltschutz und Energie (AUE)”.  

Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area is not responsible for communication with regulatory authorities. Residents must adhere to Federal Government/Canton rules regarding pathogens, chemicals, and operational procedures in the workplace. 

At Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, lab safety is a shared responsibility: 

Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area provides a framework for biosafety and general lab safety, including safety installations such as eye showers. Residents must adhere to all given rules and guidelines. 

Each resident is required to define a Sicherheitsbeauftragten (safety officer) who oversees safety practices within their company. 

Waste management is handled by facility services, ensuring proper disposal of hazardous materials. 

Additionally, Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area conducts regular safety inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations and guidelines. 

Ultimately, maintaining a safe laboratory environment is a collective effort, with both Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area and its residents working together to prioritize safety at all times. 

Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area is home to a vibrant mix of both shared and private lab residents. Among the shared lab residents, small biotech startups are pioneering drug discovery, diagnostics, and synthetic biology. These startups are focused on developing novel therapeutics, advanced diagnostic tools, and engineering biological systems. 

In addition, our private lab residents consist of small to medium-sized biotech and medtech companies and startups. These companies are also at the forefront of innovation, working on a wide range of projects, including drug development, medical device manufacturing, and healthcare technology. 

Together, these resident companies create a dynamic ecosystem of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, driving forward advancements in life sciences and healthcare.