Transforming research with lab automation

SLAS is the leading global professional society of academic, industry and government researchers coupled with the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology and tools. We bring these stakeholders together to advance all areas of pre-clinical drug discovery, life sciences research, and beyond.

We offer tangible educational resources such as our premier international conference in the U.S. with skill-building pre-conference short courses, the annual European conference with local incentives, our four intensive topical symposia (two in the U.S. and two in Europe), two peer-reviewed journals, and opportunities for professional collaboration, networking and career advancement, as well as support for start-up biotech and lab automation companies.

Our annual Graduate Education Fellowship Grant Program provides grants of up to $50,000 per year, for a maximum of two years, to outstanding students pursuing graduate degrees related to life sciences R&D. At our conferences, we provide generous travel grants making it possible for students and those in their first five years of their professional careers to present their work as either a podium or poster presentation. We bestow Student Poster Awards to up to three students, and at our international conference we present the $10,000 Innovation Award recognizing the work behind one cutting-edge podium presentation. For our technology providers, we honor the best New Products, and celebrate the most promising startup companies with the Ignite Award.

The SLAS IGNITE programme

SLAS Ignite underscores the Society’s foundational commitment to collaboration, enabling scientists, academic researchers and business development professionals to build relationships as potential strategic partners. The program includes:
academic collaboration presentations showcasing the latest research partnerships between academia and industry,
panel discussions and online discussions focused on entrepreneurship, Innovation AveNEW — a designated area of our exhibition floor for start-up companies fully funded by SLAS, and the SLAS Ignite Award given to the most promising start-up company featured on Innovation AveNEW.

We never stop innovating

We seek to support our members to lead the industry, not follow or trail. In 2024 we are working to expand on our Lab of the Future initiatives, creating a functional and interactive experience at SLAS2025 for laboratory technology users at every stage in their lab’s automation integration cycle. Watch for more on that initiative soon!

Find out more: slas.org