On 23 and 24 September 2026, Expo Beaulieu Lausanne will become the meeting point for Switzerland’s chemistry and life sciences sector. Ilmac Lausanne 2026 is expected to attract around 200 exhibitors and 3,500 trade visitors. At its core will be a conference programme featuring over 70 presentations and pitches, together with the Future of Life Sciences – Area, which will address key future topics including Process Analytical Technology, biotools, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and the laboratory of the future.

In recent years, Ilmac Lausanne has established itself as a focused platform for the French-speaking Swiss chemistry and life sciences industry. In 2026, it will demonstrate how laboratory and process technology, automation, digitalisation and industrial applications are continuing to evolve along the entire value chain. The event thereby positions itself as more than a conventional laboratory trade fair, serving instead as an industry meeting point for research, industry, start-ups and technology partners.
“The requirements placed on laboratories, production and development are changing rapidly. At Ilmac Lausanne we bring together the players who are actively shaping this transformation – from PAT and automation to AI, biotools and new forms of collaboration,” explains Céline Futterknecht, Exhibition Director Ilmac. “We are deliberately setting new standards – in terms of content, format and the way we combine networking with knowledge transfer.”

Conference programme unites Swiss expertise with international impetus

The accompanying conference forms the content hub of the event. It bridges scientific excellence and concrete industrial application. On both days, visitors can look forward to more than 70 presentations and pitches, curated by renowned partners. National and international top speakers will provide insights into current developments and future topics.
Day 1 will focus on Process Analytical Technology (PAT). Under the leadership of the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) in cooperation with the Swiss Process and Chemical Engineers (SGVC), the emphasis will be on quality assurance, AI integration and industrial applications. Day 2 will be devoted to biotools and the Swiss life sciences ecosystem. Led by BioAlps, the Canton of Vaud and InnoVaud, the programme will show how bioconvergent technologies and strong partnerships translate innovation from research into application.

Future of Life Sciences Area: experiencing innovation

The Future of Life Sciences Area will showcase concrete applications in automation, artificial intelligence, laboratory planning and industrial digitalisation. The curated platform combines showcases, expert contributions, and dialogue formats to explore how research, production, and patient care could evolve by 2040. The area is being realised in close collaboration with partners from the Swiss life sciences ecosystem, including Siemens, HDI, laboratory planner Tonelli and other leading industry players. Together they will demonstrate how automation, artificial intelligence and industrial applications interact in practice, in a tangible and experiential way. With Brett Staahl (Co-Founder and VP External Innovation, Scribe Therapeutics) from the USA, the programme also gains an international perspective from the life sciences sector. Both days will focus on central future questions for the industry:

• Day 1: Laboratory of the Future
  The transformation of modern laboratories from standalone facilities into networked, data-driven high-performance platforms will take centre stage. Topics such as automation, new working methods and digital processes will illustrate how speed, quality, and competitiveness will change in the future. What does this mean for Switzerland, and what should companies do now to secure their competitive edge?
• Day 2: AI & Quantum Computing
  The second day will examine the impact of artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and advanced automation across the entire life sciences value chain – from research and development through production and regulation to patient interaction. The focus will be on how these technologies are already transforming processes, decisions and collaboration throughout the ecosystem today. The discussion will again address what this means for Switzerland and what companies should do to remain competitive.

“The life sciences industry is part of Switzerland’s DNA. To secure its long-term international competitiveness, the digital transformation along the entire value chain plays a central role – precisely these developments are made tangible in the Future of Life Sciences – Area,” says Jens Feddern, Head Vertical Market Life Science, Siemens Switzerland Ltd.

Space for exchange and new connections

Ilmac Lausanne deliberately creates space for a wide range of encounters. Whether in the Speakers Corner, the Startup Area or formats such as “Women in Life Sciences”, the event thrives on personal exchange and the setting of pioneering impulses.
The daily Networking Lunch and the Networking Apéro on the first exhibition day foster inspiring conversations and new contacts, made possible by Endress+Hauser as Networking Partner and an environment deliberately focused on quality, dialogue and networking. The Apéro is also realised in cooperation with Apin. Both events are included in the ticket price and are popular networking occasions for both visitors and exhibitors. Additional culinary highlights are provided by barista partner VITARIS and gelato partner Milian, rounding off the exhibition experience.

Swissness as a foundation

Ilmac Lausanne combines Swiss quality, innovative strength and international relevance. It stands for exquisite, personal networking in a compact two-day format, embedded in one of Europe’s strongest life sciences regions. As the leading platform in French-speaking Switzerland, it complements Ilmac Basel, which serves as the largest specialist trade fair for the chemistry and life sciences industry in Switzerland and represents the international highlight. “In Lausanne, personal encounters and new partnerships are formed, while Basel provides the international stage for the sector. This interplay is what makes Ilmac unique,” says Futterknecht.

With Ilmac 365, the industry remains connected throughout the year. Before and during the fair, the platform acts as a personal event assistant, supporting individual visit planning and complementing the live experience with digital networking and information offerings. The full agenda, exhibitors and further information on the event are available at any time on www.ilmac.ch/en/365 and via the app.