From March 24 to 27, 2026, analytica will once again bring the international laboratory industry together in Munich. Susanne Grödl, Exhibition Director of analytica, reveals what visitors to the world’s leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analytics and biotechnology and the analytica conference can expect this year and which topics are particularly in demand.

Ms. Grödl, what can visitors expect at analytica 2026?

In the five exhibition halls, the global laboratory industry will once again present its concentrated innovative strength and provide a complete market overview of the laboratory in industry and research. We are looking forward to more than 1,100 international exhibitors – including all market leaders, nine world premieres and countless innovations that have been reported to us in advance. In addition, there is our extensive supporting programme, which covers the most important topics in the industry. It is very important to us to provide visitors with inspiration and fresh impulses for everyday laboratory work, as well as contacts and know-how that have an impact beyond the trade fair. And last but not least, visitors can of course look forward to seeing colleagues from the international laboratory community again.

What will be new at the fair this year, what will be the tried and tested?

What is new is an initiative with which we want to strengthen women in the laboratory and analysis industry at all job levels. On the first day of the fair, a panel discussion will deal with the current state of equal opportunities in the industry (24.03., 10:00 a.m.). At an exclusive CEO Breakfast, we would like to bring together women in management positions in order to exchange ideas and network.

One of the proven highlights is definitely the Live Lab, which is only available to this extent at analytica. There, experts show typical work processes on a fully equipped laboratory row in one-hour live demonstrations every day and are available to answer questions. The experimental presentations in the Forum Lab Safety impressively illustrate the risks involved in handling hazardous substances – including lightning and crashes. In addition, there are three other forums, the Digital Transformation special show, career events such as the Jobday and not to forget the analytica conference. Attendance at this renowned scientific conference is included in the trade fair ticket, which is also unique at analytica.

Which topics and trends that are currently moving the industry will be particularly reflected at analytica?

A highly topical and highly sought-after topic is artificial intelligence. We are pleased that we have been able to win Marcelina Dutkiewicz, a renowned keynote speaker. On March 24, 11:30 a.m., she will speak at the Digital Transformation Forum about how AI initiatives become a success. At 2:00 p.m., a panel discussion will follow as part of the LSR Spotlight Forum entitled “Goodbye trial and error – hello AI”. The scientific conference will also be dedicated to the topic of AI, for example in the session by Prof. Michael Rychlik on March 24 (from 09:30 a.m.) with the question of how AI and digital innovations can support food analysis and research.

Automation and digital transformation in the laboratory are also enormously important topics, which will be particularly tangible in the special show Digital Transformation, for example. Sustainability in the laboratory, for example, will be the focus of the conference session “Green Analytical Labs of the Future” (25.03., 15:00). All these key topics can be encountered at analytica in the exhibition area, in the conference and in the practical formats of the supporting program. Last but not least, I would like to recommend a detour to the parallel ceramitec, the leading international trade fair for the ceramics industry, where exciting innovations in technical ceramics can be discovered, for example.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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