Lab Automation Market Size - By Product Type (Equipment, Software), By Application (Drug Discovery, Genomics, Proteomics, Clinical Diagnostics), By End-use (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies), & Forecast, 2024 – 2032

Lab Automation Market Size

Lab Automation Market size was valued at around USD 6.7 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 6.7% between 2024 and 2032.
 

The field of lab automation has been experiencing significant growth and transformation in recent years. Several market trends have emerged that are shaping the lab automation landscape. The adoption of robotics in laboratory settings is driven by the need to automate repetitive and labour-intensive tasks, thereby reducing human error, improving accuracy, and increasing throughput. Robotic systems, such as robotic arms and workstations, are equipped with advanced features like grippers, vision systems, and precise movement capabilities.
 

These systems can handle a variety of tasks, including sample handling, pipetting, plate handling, and assay preparation. The integration of robotics enables laboratories to achieve higher productivity, standardization, and reproducibility in their workflows. These trends reflect the ongoing evolution of lab automation, driven by the need for improved efficiency, productivity, data management, and integration across various scientific disciplines. The lab automation market is expected to continue growing as more laboratories recognize the benefits and value that automation brings to their workflows.
 

Lab automation refers to the use of technology and automated systems to streamline and optimize laboratory processes, reducing manual intervention, improving efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. Lab automation encompasses various aspects of laboratory operations, including sample handling, analysis, data management, and reporting. Lab automation offers numerous benefits, including increased throughput, improved data quality, reduced turnaround times, enhanced experimental reproducibility, and improved overall laboratory efficiency.
 

The high cost of lab automation robotic systems may negatively impact the market growth, as it may limit the affordability and accessibility of these devices for some end-users, especially in the emerging economies. While lab automation offers numerous benefits, there are challenges associated with the cost factor. Implementing lab automation, especially robotic systems, requires a substantial initial investment. The cost includes not only the purchase of the automation equipment but also the necessary infrastructure modifications, software integration, and staff training.
 

The upfront cost can be prohibitive for some laboratories, especially those with limited budgets or smaller-scale operations. To mitigate the market restraint of high costs, several approaches can be considered. These include exploring collaborative partnerships or shared-use facilities to distribute the investment burden, evaluating financing options or leasing arrangements, and engaging with automation vendors to negotiate pricing or explore cost-effective solutions.
 

COVID-19 Impact

The emergence of COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health concern that had negatively affected the lab automation market growth. Nation-wide lockdowns, and emergencies were imposed in various countries and maintaining crucial medical resources was given priority owing to COVID-19. The pandemic had caused disruptions in global supply chains, affecting the manufacturing and distribution of lab automation equipment and components. Restrictions on international trade, reduced workforce capacity, and increased demand for healthcare supplies had led to delays in equipment delivery and limited availability of certain components.
 

Also, the economic impact of the pandemic had resulted in budget cuts and reduced research funding in many organizations. This had constrained the financial resources available for investments in lab automation, making it challenging for some laboratories to allocate funds to automation projects. Although, the market is set to witness significant growth in the coming years with the surging product and service adoption.
 

Lab Automation Market Trends

The clinical research & laboratory sector is witnessing a significant rise in investment in healthcare infrastructure, driven by the increasing demand for advanced medical facilities and the need to improve healthcare outcomes. This surge in investment is playing a crucial role in driving the market forward. Lab automation, with its ability to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity, has become a compelling solution for healthcare organizations looking to optimize their operations and leverage the latest technological advancements. With these developments, there is a growing focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies, including lab automation systems, into the infrastructure to deliver higher-quality and more efficient healthcare services.
 

Lab automation offers a range of benefits that align with the objectives of healthcare infrastructure development. By automating laboratory processes, it enables healthcare providers to handle a larger volume of samples, conduct tests with greater speed and precision, and generate more reliable results.
 

The implementation of lab automation systems is particularly beneficial for high-throughput environments, such as large hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and research institutions. These automated systems enable healthcare professionals to process a higher number of samples in a shorter time, facilitating faster diagnoses, treatment decisions, and research outcomes. This increased efficiency supports the overall goal of healthcare infrastructure investment, which is to provide timely and effective healthcare services to a larger population.
 

Lab Automation Market Analysis

Based on product type, the lab automation market is segmented as equipment and software. Equipment segment accounted for majority market share in 2022 and was valued at more than USD 4.7 billion. This majority revenue share is primarily attributed to the higher preference and adoption of lab automation equipment to optimize clinical workflow. Automated equipment & systems are primarily used for sample preparation, pipetting, and dispensing. These systems provide precise and error-free liquid handling capabilities, enabling laboratories to process large volumes of samples efficiently.
 

The demand for automated liquid handling systems is driven by their ability to reduce manual errors, increase throughput, and improve data reproducibility, which are critical factors in various scientific research and diagnostic applications. Thus, the the advantages offered by lab automation equipment in streamlining laboratory workflows, improving efficiency, and enhancing data accuracy are some of the key variables that are expected to drive the business progress.
 

Based on application, the lab automation market is segmented as drug discovery, genomics, proteomics, clinical diagnostics, and others. The clinical diagnostics segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022 and is expected to propel at a 6.3% CAGR from 2023-2032. This highest market share is due to the higher adoption & increased demand for lab automation solutions in clinical diagnostics. The application of lab automation in clinical diagnostics spans various areas, including molecular diagnostics, immunoassays, hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, and genetic testing. In molecular diagnostics, lab automation systems enable automated nucleic acid extraction, PCR setup, and DNA sequencing, allowing for high-throughput and standardized testing.
 

This automation improves accuracy, reduces hands-on time, and enhances the efficiency of molecular diagnostic workflows, enabling faster and more reliable results. Immunoassays, another crucial area in clinical diagnostics, benefit from lab automation through automated sample handling, reagent dispensing, and result analysis. Automation streamlines the entire immunoassay process, ensuring consistent and precise measurements while reducing manual errors and enhancing laboratory productivity.
 

Based on end-use, the lab automation market is segmented as pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, diagnostic labs, research & academic institutes, and others. The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment accounted for majority revenue share and was valued at over USD 2.6 billion in 2022. This significant segment growth is majorly attributed to the increasing adoption of lab automation solutions by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies utilize lab automation across various stages of drug development, including high-throughput screening, compound management, assay development, and quality control. Automation systems enable these companies to process large volumes of samples, improve assay precision, and accelerate the drug discovery process.
 

By automating repetitive tasks and data analysis, lab automation enhances efficiency, reduces time-to-market, and increases the success rate of identifying promising drug candidates. Moreover, lab automation is instrumental in optimizing pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. It ensures accurate formulation and dispensing of ingredients, streamlines sample preparation, and facilitates quality control testing. Automation systems help in achieving consistent batch-to-batch production, minimizing human errors, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. With a wide range of automation solutions catering to specific needs, the market continues to thrive, supporting the growth and advancements in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
 

U.S. lab automation market is predicted to reach over USD 3.7 billion by 2032. This dominant market growth is primarily owing to several variables including the robust healthcare sector, increasing adoption of lab automation solutions, advanced research facilities, and a strong presence of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are major contributors to the growth of the market in the U.S. These companies utilize lab automation systems for various applications, including drug discovery, compound management, high-throughput screening, and quality control. Automation solutions enable them to accelerate the drug development process, increase efficiency in manufacturing, and improve the overall quality of pharmaceutical products.
 

In addition to healthcare and life sciences, the U.S. has a thriving research and academic sector that extensively employs lab automation systems. Research institutions, universities, and government laboratories leverage lab automation to enhance productivity, standardize processes, and drive innovation in scientific research across various disciplines. The increased adoption of lab automation solutions across diverse end-user industries such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and research institutions and the rising demand towards healthcare laboratory informatics for efficiency, accuracy, & productivity in laboratory operations is further fuelling the regional market growth.
 

Lab Automation Market Share

Some of the major players operating in the lab automation market include:

• Qiagen N.V.
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc
• Siemens Healthineers
• Danaher Corporation
• Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Bio Tek Instruments, Inc.
• Eppendorf AG 

These leading market players are implementing advanced technologies to cater to the large unmet needs of the consumers. These players focus on strategic partnerships, new product launch & commercialization for market expansion. Furthermore, these players are heavily investing in research that allows them to introduce innovative products and garner maximum revenue in the market.
 

Lab Automation Industry Leaders:

• In March 2021, Agilent Technologies announced a collaboration with MGI Tech, a genomics research company. The collaboration aimed to develop automated solutions for genomics research workflows. The collaboration between Agilent Technologies and MGI Tech leverages expertise in lab automation and genomics to create innovative automated workflows for applications such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), enhancing efficiency and accuracy in genomic research.
   
• In January 2020, PerkinElmer launched the JANUS G3 Automated Workstation series. The series includes advanced robotic workstations designed for efficient sample preparation, handling, and assay workflows. The launch of the JANUS G3 Automated Workstation series expanded PerkinElmer's lab automation portfolio, providing researchers with advanced features for increased throughput, accuracy, and productivity.
   

Lab automation market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD from 2018 to 2032, for the following segments:

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By Product Type, 2018 - 2032 (USD Million)

• Equipment
• Robotic Arm
• Microplate Readers
• Automated Workstation
• Automated Liquid Handlers
• Analyzers
• Others 
• Software
• Laboratory Information Management Systems
• Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN)
• Laboratory Information System (LIS)
• Others                                    

By Application, 2018 - 2032 (USD Million)

• Drug Discovery
• Genomics
• Proteomics
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Others

By End-use, 2018 - 2032 (USD Million)

• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
• Diagnostic Labs
• Research & Academic Institutes
• Others  

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Poland
  • Switzerland
  • The Netherlands
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Indonesia
  • Philippines
  • Vietnam
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Peru
• Middle East & Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Israel
  • Egypt
  • Turkey