Ilmac 2023 in Basel was a resounding success

(Copyright: MCH Group)

(Copyright: MCH Group)

After three eventful days, Ilmac 2023 closed its doors on 28th September 2023 allowing the organisers to look back on a successful event. From 26 to 28 September 2023, the exhibition halls in Basel once again set the stage for the largest meeting place for the chemical and life science industry in Switzerland. The expected number of 10,000 participants was exceeded and so around 12,000 participants were able to visit the 400 renowned exhibitors from over 20 countries and many other highlights. This year, Ilmac presented numerous new formats and digital offers in addition to its well-established features.

Over the course of three days, leading industry providers such as Agilent, Endress+Hauser, Integra, Mettler Toledo, Metrohm, Siemens, and Skan, as well as 30 innovative startups, came together in the Basel exhibition halls to present their innovations and new products to around 12,000 participants. ‘With the new Ilmac format, we were able to respond even better to the needs of the industry and thus attract a large number of exhibitors and visitors. We will maintain this strategy in future to ensure a strong and successful Ilmac,’ says Céline Futterknecht (Brand Director, Ilmac). New highlights like the Startup Area, the Laboratory of the Future exhibition, the Job Connect area and our Speakers’ Corner complemented our well-established formats such as the Ilmac Conference and the Pharma Logistics Days, which took place in parallel for the third time. A special experience for all exhibitors and visitors was the Networking Apéro. There’s no other place where one can mingle with so many colleagues, experts and service providers under one roof. Kaspar Sutter (Head of the Department of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs of the Canton of Basel-Stadt) said a few words to welcome everyone.

"Our conclusion is very good. We were able to welcome many new customers at our stand and start interesting projects. For us as an innovative company, Ilmac is the most important trade fair to be able to present our new products to a broad professional audience," says Ricardo Da Costa, General Manager of Anton Paar Switzerland AG after Ilmac. Guiseppe Cirillo, Head Sales & Marketing, SKAN AG, formulated his positive conclusion as follows: "We had a lot to do and that's what we want at a trade fair! We were visited by many people - existing and new customers. For me it is nice to see how Ilmac has recovered. Because Ilmac is our trade fair." Paula Winter, Global Marketing Programme Manager of Beckman Coulter GmbH is also satisfied: "It went very well for us. We had many interesting discussions with our customers. Ilmac is very important for us because it is the leading trade fair for the life and sciences market in Switzerland and we can present our entire product range here."

An efficient transfer of know-how at the Ilmac Conference

The science-oriented Ilmac Conference impressed the participants with a wide range of topics and high-profile speakers. This year’s focus was on important industry topics such as Lab Digitisation, Chemical Technologies and New Biotech Methods. The Ilmac Conference was organised in cooperation with the Swiss Chemical Society, the Swiss Biotech Association and the Swiss Association of Graduate Chemists FH (SVC) and ensured an efficient transfer of knowledge between experts and visitors.

"Our experience at Ilmac has been thoroughly positive. We had a lot of visitors at the conference. Our programme of national and international speakers was well received by people and our three themes are exactly what people are concerned about today," says David Spichiger, Executive Director and Head Office, Swiss Chemica

Sustainability and digitalisation in the Laboratory of the Future

In our new special exhibit, the Laboratory of the Future, participants had the opportunity to experience future-oriented systems and infrastructures for laboratories interactively. They were able to get a comprehensive view of what the laboratory of the future will look like in view of growing digitalisation and the demand for greater sustainability. They also had the opportunity to exchange best practice examples and network with each other at the Innostage workshops and symposia. For example, the Green Lab Symposium, which is hosted each year by Green Building Schweiz, was held for the first time this year on the Innostage in cooperation with Ilmac.

Jens Feddern, Head Vertical Market Life Science at Siemens Switzerland, was satisfied with the visitor numbers: "The fact that Ilmac dared to do something new with the Laboratory of the Future and set new impulses, and that it then worked, is a highlight for us."

Efficient transport solutions at the Pharma Logistics Days

The Pharma Logistics Days on 27 and 28 September set the scene for visitors to learn about current trends and innovations in Pharma Logistics. Around 30 leading service providers in the industry presented their current logistics solutions and allowed visitors to experience trucks, containers and passive packaging live and in person. The Pharma Logistics Days Conference, which was opened by Lukas Engelberger (Cantonal Councillor of Basel/Head of the Department of Health/President of the GDK), featured a number of guest speakers from the life science industry, universities and the logistics sector. ‘In principle, the entire pharmaceutical logistics supply chain came together in one place,’ says Gian Carlo Alessi from Lamprecht Pharma Logistics.

Well prepared and connected all year round with Ilmac 365

The new Ilmac 365 platform enables both exhibitors and participants to prepare optimally for their Ilmac visit. The app allows people to view the interactive hall plans, get comprehensive information about exhibitors and the programme, book appointments and even arrange meetings during the event. With Ilmac 365, the industry can continue to network globally. The platform is not only active during, but also before and after the event, and offers an exclusive space to network, present products and exchange knowledge – 365 days a year.

The next Ilmac event will be held in Lausanne on 4 and 5 September 2024 and in Basel from 16 to 18 September 2025.