Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Workstations, Accessories), By Application (Drug Discovery & ADME-Tox Research, Cancer & Genomic Research, Bioprocessing/Biotechnology, and Others), By End Use (Academic & Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Contract Research Organizations), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.18 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.46%
Fastest Growing Segment	Workstations
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 3.75 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market will grow from USD 2.18 Billion in 2025 to USD 3.75 Billion by 2031 at a 9.46% CAGR. Automated Liquid Handling Technologies encompass robotic instruments and workstations engineered to dispense and transfer precise liquid volumes, effectively replacing manual pipetting to enhance laboratory workflow efficiency. The primary drivers fueling market growth include the escalating demand for high-throughput screening in pharmaceutical drug discovery and the critical need for reproducibility in genomics research. These foundational factors fundamentally support the industry by minimizing human error and accelerating experimental timelines, distinguishing them from temporary technological trends.

According to the Pistoia Alliance, in 2024, 68% of life science professionals reported actively employing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning within their laboratories, reflecting a substantial industry shift toward intelligent, data-integrated automation. Despite this progress, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the substantial capital expenditure required for these advanced systems. This financial barrier, coupled with the complexity of integrating sophisticated robotic platforms into legacy infrastructures, continues to restrict accessibility for smaller academic institutions and biotechnology firms.

Key Market Drivers

Increasing R&D Investments by Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Enterprises acts as a primary catalyst for the adoption of automated liquid handling systems. As drug discovery becomes increasingly capital-intensive, organizations are compelled to integrate robotic workstations to maximize throughput and minimize costly errors associated with manual processing. This financial commitment allows laboratories to procure advanced dispensing platforms that ensure high-precision workflows essential for competitive market entry. According to AstraZeneca PLC, July 2024, in the 'H1 and Q2 2024 Results' announcement, the company reported a Research and Development expense of $5.79 billion for the first half of the year, illustrating the massive scale of investment currently driving the acquisition of efficiency-enhancing laboratory technologies.

The Rapid Expansion of Genomics and Personalized Medicine Applications further compels the market toward automated solutions due to the stringent requirements for accuracy in next-generation sequencing library preparation. Manual pipetting poses a high risk of cross-contamination and variability, which are unacceptable in workflows involving patient-derived samples and nanoliter-scale reagents. Automation ensures the experimental integrity required for analyzing complex genetic data, thereby supporting the shift toward tailored therapeutic interventions. According to Illumina, Inc., August 2024, in the 'Financial Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024', the company reported Core Illumina revenue of $1.09 billion, highlighting the substantial activity in genomic sequencing that necessitates robust liquid handling infrastructure. Furthermore, according to Tecan Group, August 2024, the company achieved sales of CHF 467.2 million in the first half of the year, reflecting the sustained demand for laboratory instruments and automation solutions within the life sciences sector.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial capital expenditure required for advanced automated liquid handling systems stands as a primary impediment to broader market expansion. While large pharmaceutical corporations may absorb these costs, smaller biotechnology firms and academic research institutions often operate under restricted budgets that cannot accommodate the high upfront investment for complex robotic platforms. This financial strain is further exacerbated by the secondary costs associated with system integration, ongoing maintenance, and the need for specialized personnel training. Consequently, these economic hurdles create a tiered market where automation remains inaccessible to a significant segment of potential users, thereby stifling overall market penetration.

According to the Pistoia Alliance, in 2024, 20% of life science professionals cited financial barriers as a significant challenge to the adoption of advanced intelligent technologies, representing a notable increase from 14% in the previous year. This rising statistical trend highlights how budgetary constraints directly counteract the industry's technological momentum, effectively limiting the scalable deployment of data-integrated automated solutions across diverse laboratory environments.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Predictive Workflows is transforming liquid handling from static execution to intelligent, adaptive operation. Unlike traditional automation which follows rigid scripts, AI-driven systems now analyze operational data to optimize scheduling, predict instrument maintenance needs, and reduce downtime caused by component failures. This shift is particularly critical in mitigating the workforce shortages effectively paralyzing clinical and research laboratories, as intelligent systems can autonomously manage routine complexities. According to Siemens Healthineers, November 2024, in a survey regarding clinical laboratory operations, 91% of laboratory professionals agreed that AI tools and technology can effectively help address unmet patient care challenges, highlighting the sector's reliance on these digital interventions to sustain productivity.

Concurrently, the Focus on Modular and Scalable Liquid Handling Architectures is dismantling the barriers to entry for smaller laboratories by replacing monolithic platforms with flexible, benchtop solutions. This trend prioritizes user-centric design and adaptable configurations that allow researchers to automate specific tasks without the extensive infrastructure changes required by legacy systems. By incorporating no-code interfaces and plug-and-play hardware, manufacturers are empowering non-specialist staff to deploy automation rapidly, thereby democratizing access to high-precision liquid transfer. According to Opentrons Labworks, September 2024, in the press release for the 'Flex Prep' robot, the company's new modular system enables scientists to set up and execute automated pipetting tasks in under a minute, illustrating the industry's rapid pivot toward accessible, high-speed deployment models.

Segmental Insights

The Workstations segment is currently experiencing the most rapid expansion in the Global Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market, driven by the critical need for high-throughput screening in drug discovery and genomics. These integrated units allow laboratories to automate complex workflows, significantly reducing human error and enhancing experimental reproducibility. Additionally, the adoption of such technologies is accelerated by strict compliance standards from organizations like the United States Food and Drug Administration, which prioritize data accuracy and traceability in clinical and research environments. This shift ensures consistent results while optimizing overall laboratory productivity.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the automated liquid handling technologies market due to the extensive presence of established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The region benefits from substantial investments in drug discovery and genomic research which require precise sample management. Additionally, the United States Food and Drug Administration enforces stringent standards for data integrity and process repeatability. These regulatory requirements compel laboratories to adopt automated solutions to ensure compliance and reduce manual variability. Consequently, the combination of industrial scale and regulatory pressure supports the sustained market dominance of this region.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, Tecan unveiled a new liquid handling platform named Veya at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) international conference. Designed to improve efficiency and regulatory compliance in laboratories, the system incorporates AI-driven automation and precision technology. The platform features patented Air Restriction Pipetting technology capable of handling volumes ranging from 1 microliter to 5 milliliters and includes real-time data monitoring to optimize processes. The Head of the Life Sciences Business Division at Tecan stated that the system aims to simplify automation through pre-developed workflows and intelligent analytics, thereby increasing instrument utilization and freeing researchers to focus on scientific discovery.
• In September 2024, Opentrons Labworks announced the launch of the Flex Prep robot, a system designed to bridge the gap between manual pipetting and large-scale automation. The new robot features a touchscreen interface and no-code software that allows users to set up pipetting tasks such as sample reformatting, dilutions, and plate preparation in under a minute. The General Manager of Robotics at Opentrons highlighted that the system provides a cost-effective entry point for labs of all sizes, enabling bench scientists without specialized training to delegate repetitive liquid handling tasks to the robot.
• In July 2024, Hamilton Company introduced a new clean air solution for its compact liquid handling workstation. The company launched the Prep Clean Air Protection (CAP) device, which integrates with the Microlab Prep automated liquid handler to provide a sterile environment for sensitive workflows. The device utilizes a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to deliver clean air to the deck, protecting samples from airborne contaminants, while integrated UV-C LEDs sterilize the interior to minimize contamination risks. This development addresses the needs of laboratories requiring stringent contamination control within a small footprint.
• In April 2024, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences entered into a strategic collaboration with Watchmaker Genomics to develop automated solutions for high-stringency clinical and translational applications. The partnership focuses on co-developing methods for next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation by leveraging Watchmaker’s DNA and RNA solutions on Beckman Coulter’s Biomek i7 Dual Hybrid Liquid Handler. The Vice President of Biotech Workflow Solutions at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences noted that the collaboration aims to reduce manual bottlenecks and turnaround times for laboratories, enabling the automated processing of up to 96 libraries in under eight hours.

Key Market Players

• Danaher Corporation
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Aurora Biomed, Inc.
• Autogen, Inc.
• BioTek Instruments, Inc.
• Analytik Jena GmbH+Co. KG
• Corning Incorporated
• Eppendorf SE
• Formulatrix, Inc.

By Product	By Application	By End Use	By Region
Workstations Accessories	Drug Discovery & ADME-Tox Research Cancer & Genomic Research Bioprocessing/Biotechnology and Others	Academic & Research Institutes Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Contract Research Organizations	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market, By Product:

• Workstations
• Accessories

• Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market, By Application:

• Drug Discovery & ADME-Tox Research
• Cancer & Genomic Research
• Bioprocessing/Biotechnology
• and Others

• Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market, By End Use:

• Academic & Research Institutes
• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
• Contract Research Organizations

• Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE