A pioneering collaboration: Bringing sustainable lab equipment to bio-innovators

Setting up a new laboratory, including securing access to glassware washers and other laboratory equipment is often a big challenge for new biotechnology startups, which may limit their capacity to experiment and innovate. Leading organizations, such as BioLabs – a membership-based network of shared lab and office facilities in the United States – can help by offering valuable support, expertise, and flexible co-working environments with supported lab, office, and event spaces. Companies can choose to collaborate with BioLabs with only a single lab bench, and and scale up as they grow and expand their business.

With 11 locations at key biotech innovation clusters across the United States, BioLabs aim to change how early-stage scientific companies do business. They do this by building an ecosystem that empowers bio-innovators to quickly expand, while also maximizing capital efficiency. Alongside providing carefully designed supported lab, office and event spaces, BioLabs offer networking opportunities through partnerships and sponsorships, which allow sponsors to support early life science startups, and grant them access to innovative companies and entrepreneurs. This also provides valuable opportunities to build long-term partnerships between sponsors and BioLabs’ resident companies.

To improve their current services, BioLabs partnered with Miele, an independent family-owned manufacturer of premium professional appliances and commercial equipment, to provide some of its residents with essential laboratory glassware washers.

Industry giants join hands

Miele and BioLabs were introduced in 2019, when Nanor Nerkizian, Project Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Operations at BioLabs met with the Miele team to address each site’s specific needs. It was at this time that they decided the Philadelphia location, one of BioLabs’ largest sites, was the best place to kick off the partnership. Miele contributed two of its laboratory glassware washers for the residents to use.

Founded in 1899 in Germany, Miele has a long history of manufacturing premium commercial equipment, and their guiding principle of ‘forever better’ continues to drive them to develop better and more sustainable appliances. This philosophy appealed to BioLabs. “It is part of our mission to provide fully equipped lab spaces and exceptional services to our residents, and Miele offers some of the best lab products and washers on the market,” explains Nerkizian. “We choose our sponsors very carefully to make sure they’re the right fit, and Miele’s products are extremely reliable and sustainable, making them a great choice for us.”

BioLabs’ Philadelphia location launched in 2018 in partnership with CIC – a provider of flexible workspaces for individuals and small businesses – and the University City Science Center. It is currently run by a team of six, and led by Site Director, Melina Blees, PhD. “Our goal is to provide a first-rate service – white-glove, fast-moving solutions and problem solving – allowing residents to hit their benchmarks really quickly and not be bogged down by the operational details,” says Blees. “We offer them access to top-tier, expertly maintained scientific equipment, and our relationship with Miele has allowed us to offer them access to cutting-edge glassware washers. Miele is the very best at what they do, and that has merged extremely well with our offerings and mission.”

The partnership has been valuable for Miele too. “We jumped at the opportunity to work with BioLabs, because we believe strongly in their mission,” explains Josh Camp, Head of Sales for Lab, Medical and Dental, Miele Professional USA. “And of course, we’re proud that our washers are providing their residents with reliable and hygienic glassware reprocessing.”

Delivering an excellent service

Biolabs look for sponsors that will form mutually beneficial long-term relationships with them and their resident companies. When it comes to selecting partners, a commitment to providing an outstanding service is their priority. “Providing an excellent service to our residents is very important to us. Miele’s professional approach and commitment to support our residents is very appreciated,” says Nerkizian. “Since our partnership kicked off, we have received exceptional support and customer service, Miele even covered the costs associated with the electrical and plumbing work required to install their washers.”

“The Miele team has also been extremely responsive to the residents’ questions. Having the expertise to solve their problems takes the relationship above and beyond for the residents,” explains Blees. “Anything that can slow down your research – even by a day – can really put a dent in a company’s growth, so having a team that is so engaged and really cares about the residents makes a big difference.”

A shared commitment to sustainability

Labs are often very resource-intensive, and therefore sustainability is a key consideration in BioLabs’ partner selection process. “It is extremely important for us to have partners who are committed to sustainability,” explains Blees. “To some unavoidable extent, science is an energy-intensive type of work, and anywhere you can optimize, especially at the BioLabs scale, becomes a multiplier. As our residents develop their habits and grow, they’ll take those practices and technologies with them. In turn, having partners who are committed to sustainability in an in-depth way is really beneficial.”

BioLabs’ Philadelphia location is in the process of becoming certified by My Green Lab®, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a culture of sustainability in science. My Green Lab’s Accountability, Consistency and Transparency (ACT^®) Label aims to provide clear, third-party verified information about the environmental impact of laboratory products and represents the standard for lab sustainability. In 2021, three of Miele’s laboratory glassware washers earned the coveted ACT Label.

“Sustainability is a pillar of Miele’s business and we’re excited to be able to offer multiple glassware washers with the ACT Label,” added Camp. “We know that reducing water consumption and saving energy is the future of lab sustainability, and we’re proud to contribute to that ideal within the BioLabs community.”

A bright future

BioLabs is looking to expand internationally with its first sites in Europe (Paris and Saclay, France, and Heidelberg, Germany) due to open soon. In June 2022, Biolabs also announced plans to develop a new site in Kawasaki, Japan in collaboration with local partners. “Our partnership with Miele has been a great journey. Biolabs and its residents are very appreciative of Miele’s products and services. In fact, other BioLabs sites are considering Miele as their preferred lab glassware washer partner,” said Nerkizian. “As we continue to grow, we are hoping to expand our partnership with Miele across the entire BioLabs network.”