IWG and SmartLabs Sign 10-Year Deal to Bring the Coworking Model Further into Global Lab Markets

IWG, the biggest coworking group worldwide,  behind the Regus and Spaces brands, has announced a strategic 10-year global partnership with SmartLabs, a U.S.-based provider of flexible laboratory infrastructure. The collaboration marks IWG’s entry into the lab-enabled real estate sector, aiming to meet growing demand for fully managed lab environments across emerging and established life sciences markets, writes this press release.

Announced during the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston, the partnership will see SmartLabs integrate its lab-as-a-service model into IWG’s global network of flexible workspaces. The model includes services such as site selection, lab design, construction management, daily operations, and scientific support. The goal is to provide turnkey R&D spaces for life sciences and emerging tech firms across a range of international locations, says this article.

According to the press release, the agreement addresses a key infrastructure challenge in the life sciences sector: access to fully managed laboratory environments, especially in regions with strong scientific talent but limited lab capacity. According to SmartLabs CEO Brian Taylor, the partnership is designed to extend lab services into underserved markets in Europe, Asia, and beyond, helping both early-stage and established companies scale their research with fewer logistical constraints.

For IWG, the collaboration provides a new path for landlords and developers to enter the life sciences and tech sectors by offering ready-to-operate lab spaces under a flexible workspace model. IWG CEO Mark Dixon stated that the partnership enables the application of IWG’s established operational framework to the science and innovation sectors, potentially accelerating the development of lab infrastructure globally without requiring property owners to build or manage it themselves.

The agreement reflects the broader trend of coworking practices expanding into niche verticals beyond traditional office users.

SmartLabs, founded in 2015 and mainly active in the U.S., delivers high-performance laboratory solutions and currently operates several facilities designed to meet evolving scientific and regulatory needs.

IWG operates more than 4,000 locations in over 120 countries. The new offering is expected to be rolled out gradually, targeting key life sciences and innovation markets worldwide.

IWG will be a speaker at the Coworking Europe 2025 conference in Berlin.