Lab Automation In Drug Discovery Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 5.66 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 6.99 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 4.31% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
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Lab Automation In Drug Discovery Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The lab automation market in the drug discovery sector reached USD 5.66 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 6.99 billion by 2030, expanding at a 4.31% CAGR over the period. The growth path reflects the steady integration of artificial intelligence into laboratory workflows, the mainstream adoption of acoustic liquid handling, and increasing investments that alleviate talent shortages across pharmaceutical research hubs. In 2024, automated liquid handlers have become a key component of modern screening lines. This development is driven by compound library developers increasingly relying on high-throughput screening to achieve faster cycle times. Pharmaceutical companies continue to represent the largest segment, accounting for the highest demand, while contract research organizations are becoming increasingly significant, reflecting a growing trend toward outsourcing and services focused on automation.
North America, supported by its established regulatory frameworks and substantial research funding, maintained its leadership position in 2024. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region is gaining momentum, driven by China’s USD 2.1 billion automation stimulus and India’s rapid growth in contract research and development manufacturing services. Growth trends across equipment categories are becoming more diverse. Automated storage and retrieval systems are experiencing strong adoption, highlighting laboratories’ increasing focus on secure and compliant sample management. In application areas, ADME-Tox studies are emerging as a key growth driver, supported by the transition from animal testing to organ-on-chip assays, which are gaining regulatory acceptance.
Key Report Takeaways
- By equipment, automated liquid handlers captured 31.2% of the lab automation market share in 2024, while automated storage and retrieval systems are projected to rise at a 5.7% CAGR through 2030.
- By application, high-throughput screening generated 27.6% of 2024 revenue; ADME-Tox platforms are forecasted to post the fastest growth of 5.9% CAGR to 2030.
- By end user, pharmaceutical companies held 39.6% of the lab automation in the drug discovery market in 2024, whereas contract research organizations are expanding at a 4.6% CAGR.
- By geography, North America led with 34.5% of spending in 2024; the Asia-Pacific region is expected to advance at a 5.9% CAGR through 2030.
Global Lab Automation In Drug Discovery Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| DRIVER | (~) % IMPACT ON CAGR FORECAST | GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE | IMPACT TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid miniaturization and HTS platforms | +1.2% | North America, Europe | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Integration of AI-enabled analytics | +1.5% | Global, led by North America | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Chronic-disease research and development spending is up-cycling | +0.8% | Global | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Demand for faster time-to-clinic | +1.1% | Global | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Open-source lab-automation consortia | +0.4% | North America, Europe | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Sustainability-driven micro-fluidics | +0.6% | Europe expanding globally | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rapid Miniaturization and HTS Platforms
High-throughput screening now reaches daily volumes of over 100,000 compounds, thanks to miniaturized 1,536- and 3,456-well plates, which cut reagent use by 95% without compromising data quality.[1]Source: “Laboratory automation accelerates pharmaceutical research timelines,” Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, nature.com Acoustic dispensers deliver sub-microliter precision, and plate handlers equipped with environmental sensors maintain assay integrity under stringent regulatory controls. The technology lowers per-assay cost, broadens library coverage for small molecules, and widens adoption among biotechnology start-ups that once lacked capital for large-footprint robotics. Integrated systems reduce handoffs between sample preparation and analysis, boosting uptime and minimizing the need for manual checks by operators. Regulators in the United States and Europe now accept miniaturized assay results for submission dossiers, removing the last institutional hurdle.
Integration of AI-enabled Analytics
Artificial intelligence converts conventional robots into adaptive research companions that optimize protocols in real time. Platforms such as NVIDIA BioNeMo enable liquid handlers to self-adjust based on historical performance, reducing variance by up to 40% while flagging anomalies before data review. Predictive maintenance algorithms equally shrink unplanned downtime, extending annual productive hours. In parallel, deep-learning engines sift through screening outputs to auto-rank hits, trimming hit-to-lead timelines by roughly 30%.
Chronic-disease Research and Devlopment Spending Up-cycle
Industry research and development budgets are increasing, with a focus on chronic diseases, including oncology, neuroscience, and metabolic disorders. Complex cell-based assays and large compound libraries have become standard, prompting laboratories to automate their workflows earlier and more thoroughly. Oncology teams rely on high-content imaging systems to process thousands of tumor cell plates around the clock, while neurobiology groups invest in gentle liquid handlers for fragile organoids. Automation vendors benefit not only from equipment orders but also from software subscriptions and validation services associated with multi-year transformation programs.
Demand for Faster Time-to-clinic
Industry pressure to cut average development timelines from 12 years to under 8 years drives laboratories toward 24/7, lights-out operation. Continuous-flow automation triples weekly sample throughput without proportional head-count increases. Coupled scheduling software orchestrates plate movements, instrument queues, and data capture, allowing follow-up assays to launch minutes after primary screens close. Contract research organizations utilize these capabilities as key selling points, further accelerating the momentum of outsourcing. Automated storage units contribute by retrieving samples within seconds while maintaining audit trails needed for investigational new drug filings.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| RESTRAINT | (~) % IMPACT ON CAGR FORECAST | GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE | IMPACT TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| High CAPEX for SMEs | -0.9% | Global | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Legacy-software interoperability gaps | -0.7% | North America, Europe | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Supplier back-orders on precision actuators | -0.5% | Global, notably Asia-Pacific | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Post-COVID wet-lab talent crunch | -0.4% | Global | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
High CAPEX for SMEs
Comprehensive automation lines cost over USD 2 million, a threshold beyond the reach of many biotech start-ups despite proven paybacks. Leasing and robotics-as-a-service schemes have emerged, yet stiff credit checks and multi-year commitments still deter early-stage firms. Regional banks offer targeted loans, but limited quotas leave demand unmet.
Legacy-software Interoperability Gaps
Pharmaceutical giants operate robotics that have been installed across decades, each controlled by proprietary code that seldom communicates with next-generation AI layers. Upgrades require middleware, custom drivers, and rigorous revalidation under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) rules, which inflates integration costs to nearly half of new equipment budgets. These friction points postpone refresh cycles, slowing short-term uptake.
Segment Analysis
By Equipment: Storage Systems Drive Infrastructure Evolution
Automated liquid handlers accounted for 31.2% of the 2024 expenditure, underscoring their centrality in nearly every screen and assay. Continuous improvements in acoustic dispensing now enable sub-microliter transfers that safeguard expensive reagents while preserving analytical precision. Vendors embed AI dashboards, allowing operators to fine-tune protocols based on historical error trends. As laboratories extend operating hours, uptime and tip economy become decisive buying factors. Parallel innovation in contactless cleaning lowers cross-contamination risk and reduces consumable budgets.
Automated storage and retrieval systems, although smaller in base, represent the fastest-growing cluster with a 5.7% CAGR. Multi-temperature towers integrate barcode verification and chain-of-custody logging that satisfy FDA audit trails. Modular footprints let mature facilities add capacity without disrupting workflows, and cloud dashboards issue predictive maintenance alerts that prevent costly downtime. Looking ahead, hybrid systems that co-locate cryogenic and ambient racks in a single aisle are expected to yield further utilization gains.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Application: ADME-Tox Studies Accelerate Safety Evaluation
High-throughput screening accounted for 27.6% of 2024 application revenue, as pharma and CROs maintained an arms race to screen ever larger libraries. Demand rests on efficient hit identification: acoustic pipetting, self-calibrating plate readers, and batch scheduling engines converge to keep plates moving with minimal pause. Future expansion will hinge on AI algorithms that pre-rank compounds, trimming false positives before confirmation runs.
ADME-Tox platforms are the fastest-growing, increasing 5.9% per year. Organ-on-chip devices enable parallel assessments of liver, kidney, and cardiac responses within microfluidic channels, generating concurrent multi-endpoint data. Regulatory bodies now cite automated ADME-Tox readouts as valid support in new drug applications, ensuring widespread dataset acceptance. Integration of mass-spectrometry analyzers directly into fluidics lines trims sample hand-offs and cleans compliance documentation.
By End User: CROs Emerge as Automation Leaders
Pharmaceutical companies retained 39.6% of 2024 revenue. Internal programs emphasize harmonized data stacks across global sites, forcing vendors to deliver enterprise-wide validation and remote monitoring as non-negotiable features.
Contract research organizations, while smaller, recorded the highest 4.6% CAGR. CROs leverage scale to run fully robotic facilities that offer 24/7 access to mid-tier biotech clients. These operators often qualify as early adopters for AI-embedded releases, providing vendors with rapid feedback loops that shape product roadmaps. Academic and government labs utilize automation through grant funding, focusing on specialized modules such as high-content imaging or automated cell culture, which advance translational projects without overextending budgets.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
Geography Analysis
North America accounted for 34.5% of global revenue in 2024 and remains the largest market for advanced platforms. The United States leads through sustained National Institutes of Health grants that modernize shared-core facilities, while Canada’s research clusters in Ontario and Québec favor modular robotics that fit in retrofit labs. Mexico’s manufacturing corridors now produce subassemblies for U.S. and European vendors, streamlining cross-border supply.
Europe follows with robust adoption in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Sustainability rules drive the rapid uptake of microfluidic cartridges, which slash solvent use by 90% compared with legacy plates. Horizon Europe grants support multi-institutional automation projects, and the European Medicines Agency’s data-integrity guidance positions automated audit trails as a standard practice, spurring repeat orders for laboratory information management upgrades.
The Asia-Pacific region grows at the fastest rate of 5.9% CAGR, driven by substantial public investment. China has earmarked a significant portion for automated labs that align with its “Made in China 2025” strategy, while India’s CRDMO sector is scaling into double digits as Western sponsors shift preclinical briefs eastward. Japan and South Korea add momentum by integrating AI layers into established robotic lines, ensuring global alignment on quality. Regional regulators streamline standards through ASEAN harmonization, simplifying cross-border deployments and fueling multinational rollout plans.
Competitive Landscape
Competition mixes long-time hardware leaders with AI-first upstarts. Thermo Fisher Scientific expanded Massachusetts production by USD 150 million to shorten lead times for its machine-learning liquid handlers. Beckman Coulter Life Sciences invested USD 50 million to pair robotic arms with hematology analytics aimed squarely at drug discovery labs.[2]Source: Press releases archive, Thermo Fisher Scientific, thermofisher.com Hamilton Company’s USD 75 million acquisition of Robotics Plus adds niche sample-management expertise that plugs directly into its Microlab ecosystem.[3]Source: Automated Liquid Handling Systems and Robotics, Hamilton Company, hamiltoncompany.com
Emerging players stress cloud orchestration and subscription models. Partnerships, such as the Tecan–NVIDIA alliance, integrate GPU-powered BioNeMo analytics into benchtop robots, resulting in turnkey systems that automatically optimize protocols and reduce reagent costs by 30%. Vendors that integrate AI inference at the edge secure first-mover advantage as buyers prioritize closed-loop feedback over pure motion speed. Regulatory confidence in automated data capture strengthens incumbents that offer validated libraries of compliance scripts for FDA or EMA audits. Overall, moderate fragmentation persists, although acquisition pipelines suggest a gradual shift toward platform consolidation, which will elevate barriers for small, single-product firms.
Lab Automation In Drug Discovery Industry Leaders
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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
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Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
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Tecan Group AG
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PerkinElmer Inc.
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Agilent Technologies Inc.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- October 2025: Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the next-generation Multidrop Combi Reagent Dispenser after a USD 45 million development program; the unit’s machine-learning liquid-level detection tightens dispensing accuracy and curbs reagent loss during high-throughput screens.
- September 2025: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences finalized a USD 280 million deal for Labcyte Inc.’s acoustic liquid-handling portfolio, bringing non-contact dispensing that removes cross-contamination risk from pharmaceutical sample preparation lines.
- August 2025: Hamilton Company launched the Vantage Liquid Handling Platform, pairing environmental sensors with real-time protocol adjustments so assays stay consistent even as lab conditions shift.
- July 2025: Tecan Group AG joined forces with Microsoft Azure to create cloud-enabled automation suites that let researchers monitor and steer liquid handlers remotely while AI tools fine-tune protocols on the fly.
Global Lab Automation In Drug Discovery Market Report Scope
| Automated Liquid Handlers |
| Automated Plate Handlers |
| Robotic Arms |
| Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems |
| Analyzers |
| Target Identification and Validation |
| Hit-to-Lead |
| Lead Optimisation |
| High-Throughput Screening |
| ADME-Tox Studies |
| Pharmaceutical Companies |
| Biotechnology Companies |
| Contract Research Organisations (CROs) |
| Academic and Government Labs |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| Mexico | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Rest of South America | |
| Europe | Germany |
| United Kingdom | |
| France | |
| Italy | |
| Spain | |
| Russia | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Asia-Pacific | China |
| Japan | |
| India | |
| South Korea | |
| South-East Asia | |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
| Middle East and Africa |
| By Equipment | Automated Liquid Handlers | |
| Automated Plate Handlers | ||
| Robotic Arms | ||
| Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems | ||
| Analyzers | ||
| By Application | Target Identification and Validation | |
| Hit-to-Lead | ||
| Lead Optimisation | ||
| High-Throughput Screening | ||
| ADME-Tox Studies | ||
| By End User | Pharmaceutical Companies | |
| Biotechnology Companies | ||
| Contract Research Organisations (CROs) | ||
| Academic and Government Labs | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Russia | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| Japan | ||
| India | ||
| South Korea | ||
| South-East Asia | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East and Africa | ||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current state of lab automation in the drug discovery market as of 2025?
The lab automation in the drug discovery market size is USD 5.66 billion in 2025.
What CAGR is forecast for lab automation platforms through 2030?
From 2025 to 2030, the market expands at a 4.31% CAGR.
Which equipment category holds the largest revenue share?
Automated liquid handlers account for 31.2% of 2024 equipment revenue.
Which application is growing the fastest?
ADME-Tox studies register the highest 5.9% CAGR driven by organ-on-chip adoption.
Which region will post the quickest growth?
The Asia-Pacific region leads with a projected 5.9% CAGR as China and India scale their automated labs.
What factor most restrains adoption among small biotech firms?
High upfront capital expenditure above USD 2 million remains the primary bottleneck.
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