Rent Lab Space in Australia: A Soft‑Landing Guide for International Innovators

Australia is fast becoming a global destination for biotech, life sciences, climate tech, and advanced manufacturing companies looking to scale into the Asia‑Pacific region. For international companies, one of the biggest early questions is practical but critical: how do you rent lab space in Australia — quickly, compliantly, and without over‑committing capital?

At CoLabs, we specialise in laboratory space as a service, designed specifically to help international teams land, test, and grow in Australia with confidence. This article is written for international companies entering Australia and covers everything you need to know about renting lab space across Melbourne and Sydney, including wet labs, dry labs, PC2 and PC1 facilities, engineering space, and fab labs, alongside the business development and strategy supportrequired to succeed locally.

Why International Companies Choose Australia for R&D

Australia offers a unique combination of advantages for global innovators:

• World‑class research institutions and talent pipelines
• Strong IP protections and regulatory transparency
• Competitive R&D tax incentives
• Gateway access to Asia‑Pacific markets
• A growing ecosystem in biotech, medtech, foodtech, climate tech, and advanced materials

However, navigating local regulations, lab compliance, and commercial real estate can be complex for overseas teams. Traditional lab leases are capital‑intensive, slow, and inflexible – which is where renting lab space as a service becomes a strategic advantage (not to mention the R&D tax incentive).

This strategy has worked wonders for a range of CoLabs members and alumni, including Traitomic, Pythag Tech, Quantum Brilliance and OmegaQuant.

Rent Lab Space Australia: What ‘Lab as a Service’ Really Means

Renting lab space in Australia through a lab‑as‑a‑service model allows international companies to:

• Access fully operational labs without long‑term leases
• Scale space up or down as projects evolve
• Meet Australian safety and compliance standards from day one
• Combine lab access with business and market‑entry support

Instead of spending months building infrastructure, teams can begin R&D, validation, and pilot production almost immediately.

Keen to know more? Drop us a line.

Rent Lab Space Melbourne: Australia’s Leading Innovation Hub

Melbourne is Australia’s largest life sciences and advanced manufacturing ecosystem. For international companies, it is often the first landing point.

At CoLabs in Melbourne, Victoria, companies can get a membership at our Brunswick or Notting Hill Facilities, which will provide access to:

Wet Lab Space

• PC1 and PC2 certified wet labs
• Shared and private lab options
• Biosafety‑ready infrastructure
• Ideal for biotech, medtech, foodtech, and biomaterials companies

Dry Lab Space

Suitable for:

• Computational biology, data science, and AI‑driven R&D
• Electronics, diagnostics, and instrumentation development
• Adjacent access to wet labs for hybrid teams

Engineering Space & Fab Lab Access

We have space and a range of equioment for:

• Prototyping and hardware development
• Advanced manufacturing workflows
• Engineering benches and fabrication tools

Flexible Commercial Terms

• Short‑term, long-term and scalable lab rental for companies from startup to scale-up and beyond
• No capital fit‑out costs
• Fast onboarding for international teams

If you’re looking to rent lab space, CoLabs provides one of the most flexible and compliance‑ready options available, without being burdened by bureaucracy.

Understanding PC1 and PC2 Lab Requirements in Australia

For international teams unfamiliar with Australian biosafety classifications:

• PC1 labs are suitable for work with low‑risk microorganisms and non‑pathogenic materials
• PC2 labs support work with moderate‑risk biological agents and are common for biotech and medical R&D

Renting lab space that is already PC1 or PC2 certified significantly reduces regulatory friction and accelerates project timelines. CoLabs manages certifications, safety systems, and operational compliance so teams can focus on innovation.

More Than Space: Business Development & Strategy Support

For international companies, success in Australia is not just about infrastructure – it’s about local market understanding and ecosystem access.

That’w where the CoLabs difference really stands out. We can support international teams with:

Business Development Support

• Introductions to industry partners, customers, and pilot sites
• Connections to universities, researchers, and talent
• Access to investors and funding pathways
• Support with content creation like podcasts, videos, photos and events

Strategy & Market‑Entry Support

• Australian market validation
• Regulatory and commercial landscape guidance
• Go‑to‑market strategy for APAC expansion

This integrated model is especially valuable for companies using Australia as a soft‑landing market before scaling globally.

Who Should Rent Lab Space at CoLabs?

Our lab spaces are designed for:

• International biotech and medtech companies
• Climate tech and bio‑materials innovators
• Food, fermentation, and alternative protein startups
• Advanced manufacturing and engineering teams
• Quantum / Frontier tech companies
• R&D units of global corporates entering Australia

Whether you need wet lab space, dry lab space, PC2 labs, engineering space, or even a micro fab lab, CoLabs offers a single platform to support both technical and commercial growth within a vibrant community of like-minded innovators.

Rent Lab Space Australia with Confidence

For international companies, renting lab space in Australia doesn’t need to be slow, risky, or capital‑heavy. With lab space as a service, you can move faster, stay flexible, and plug directly into Australia’s innovation ecosystem.

If you’re exploring renting lab space in Australia, or more specifically, renting lab space in Melbourne, renting lab space in Sydney or even renting lab space in Brisbane, Canberra or Perth (soon!) CoLabs is built to support your landing, growth, and long‑term success.

Looking to rent lab space in Australia?

Connect with CoLabs to explore wet labs, dry labs, PC2 and PC1 facilities, engineering space, fab labs, and end‑to‑end business support — all designed for international innovators entering the Australian market.