The global laboratory automation market is projected to grow from USD 6.36 billion in 2025 to USD 9.0 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% over the forecast period. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing need for high-throughput screening, shortages of skilled laboratory personnel, and the rising adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning (ML) in modern laboratory operations. As laboratories worldwide face mounting pressures to deliver faster, more reliable results at reduced costs, automation has emerged as an essential tool for enhancing accuracy, productivity, and efficiency.
The growing prevalence of chronic diseases and the expanding focus on personalized medicine are also major contributors to this market’s rapid expansion. By automating complex and repetitive tasks, laboratory systems can now process large volumes of patient samples more efficiently, reducing human error while accelerating diagnostics and research.
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Automation: The Backbone of the Modern Laboratory
Modern laboratories are undergoing a profound transformation through automation, which streamlines workflows, minimizes manual intervention, and enhances precision. Automated systems can perform repetitive functions such as sample preparation, liquid handling, data analysis, and quality control, allowing scientists and technicians to focus on more complex analytical and interpretive tasks.
Automation solutions are also helping laboratories tackle the global shortage of skilled technicians, a challenge faced by healthcare and research institutions worldwide. By reducing dependence on manual labor, laboratories can maintain operational continuity, even in the face of workforce limitations.
Moreover, integration of AI and data analytics is enabling real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, and improved decision-making. These technologies not only enhance diagnostic accuracy but also support the development of personalized treatment strategies in fields like genomics, oncology, and precision medicine.
Key Growth Drivers
- Rising Demand for High-Throughput Screening
As the volume of biological and chemical testing continues to surge, laboratories are under increasing pressure to handle large-scale screening processes efficiently. High-throughput screening technologies—empowered by automation—allow researchers to analyze thousands of samples simultaneously, reducing the time required for experiments and clinical analyses. This capability is especially valuable in drug discovery, genomics research, and clinical diagnostics.
- Increasing Use of AI, Robotics, and ML
AI and robotics are reshaping laboratory workflows by enabling intelligent automation. Robotic liquid handlers, smart analyzers, and automated imaging systems can now perform tasks that once required extensive manual effort. Machine learning algorithms further enhance the accuracy of image analysis, molecular pattern recognition, and predictive diagnostics. Together, these technologies are propelling laboratories into a new era of efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
- Growing Focus on Personalized Medicine
The shift toward personalized healthcare—tailored to individual genetic profiles—is driving the need for advanced automation tools. Laboratory automation systems play a key role in managing large datasets generated through genomic sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics. Automated sample processing and data management systems ensure reproducibility and accuracy, essential for the development of patient-specific therapies.
- Addressing Labor Shortages and Cost Efficiency
Global demand for trained laboratory professionals continues to exceed supply. Automation helps mitigate this challenge by taking over routine processes, thereby increasing laboratory throughput without additional labor costs. Furthermore, automated systems reduce the likelihood of human error and contamination, resulting in improved reliability and reduced wastage—factors that contribute to significant cost savings over time.
Competitive Landscape: Innovation at the Core
The laboratory automation market is moderately consolidated, with five major players controlling approximately 45–60% of the global market share. Competition is driven by continuous innovation, strategic acquisitions, and the expansion of integrated product portfolios.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (US)
Thermo Fisher Scientific leads the global laboratory automation market through its vast range of automated liquid handlers, ELISA analyzers, nucleic acid extractors, robotic systems, and microplate technologies. Its products are marketed through the Laboratory Products & Biopharma Services and Analytical Instruments segments. The company’s acquisition of Olink Holding AB in October 2023 strengthened its leadership in proteomics and biomarker discovery, reinforcing its dominance across research and clinical applications.
Tecan Group (Switzerland)
Tecan Group, headquartered in Switzerland, is renowned for its robotic liquid handling and integrated laboratory systems. Its solutions cater to applications in personalized medicine, biomarker investigation, and drug discovery. In February 2024, Tecan introduced the Resolve i1300 workstation, designed to improve efficiency in high-throughput environments. The company’s presence in over 52 countries and its dual operational model—Life Sciences and Partnering Business—allow it to serve a broad range of customer needs.
Danaher Corporation (US)
Through its subsidiaries Beckman Coulter and Molecular Devices, Danaher Corporation continues to be a strong player in laboratory automation, offering scalable solutions for analytical instrumentation and workflow integration. The company’s focus on digital transformation and data connectivity ensures seamless integration between devices and laboratory information systems (LIS).
Agilent Technologies (US)
Agilent Technologies provides automation solutions for analytical and genomic laboratories, with a focus on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation systems. Its tools are widely used in pharmaceutical development, food testing, and environmental research, contributing significantly to productivity and reproducibility in analytical workflows.
- Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland)
Roche remains a major contributor to the automation space through its clinical laboratory systems and digital diagnostics platforms. Its integration of AI into diagnostic workflows enhances test accuracy and efficiency in clinical laboratories worldwide.
Market Ranking and Ecosystem
The top five companies—Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tecan Group, Danaher Corporation, Agilent Technologies, and Roche—account for a substantial portion of global revenue. The remaining 40–55% of the market consists of regional and emerging players such as Revvity, Eppendorf AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Waters Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, Abbott Laboratories, Biomérieux, Hamilton Company, and Hudson Robotics.
These companies are focusing on strategic partnerships, R&D investments, and digital integration to enhance product capabilities. Innovation in automation software, robotics, and data interoperability continues to drive competitiveness across the market.
Future Outlook: A Technological Evolution
The laboratory automation market is at the forefront of digital transformation in science and healthcare. As laboratories worldwide shift toward data-driven and AI-assisted operations, the demand for automation systems that can handle complex workflows with precision is expected to soar.
Emerging technologies such as cloud-based lab management, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, and robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) are anticipated to redefine operational models. Laboratories are expected to become more decentralized, interconnected, and adaptive—facilitating rapid diagnostics, efficient data sharing, and improved patient outcomes.
The focus on sustainability is also growing, with manufacturers developing energy-efficient and compact systems that minimize waste and environmental impact. Together, these factors are shaping a new era of intelligent, connected laboratories designed to meet the demands of modern science.
Conclusion
The laboratory automation market is entering a period of transformative growth, fueled by innovation, digitalization, and the global push toward precision medicine. With AI, robotics, and data analytics becoming central to laboratory operations, organizations are poised to achieve new levels of speed, accuracy, and scalability. Despite challenges such as high initial costs and integration complexities, the long-term benefits of automation—including enhanced reproducibility, efficiency, and workforce optimization—are driving widespread adoption.