Automated Sample Storage Market to Triple by 2034, Driven by Biobanking and AI Integration
Rapid adoption of automated storage systems in clinical and research labs is expected to support a compound annual growth rate of 11.1% through 2034.
As clinical laboratories push for greater efficiency in their processing of blood, urine, and tissue samples, research firm Global Market Insights (GMI) projects massive growth in the international market for automated systems used to safely store and retrieve these samples as well as chemical compounds used in drug discovery and research.
Key Growth Drivers: Biobanking, AI Integration, and Lab Digitalization
The market for automated sample storage systems in life sciences will grow from an estimated $1.3 billion in 2024 to $3.6 billion in 2034, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%, GMI stated in a July 2025 report.
“This high growth is attributed to several factors including the growing need for biobanking and maintaining biorepositories, digital transformation across clinical and research laboratories, growth in drug discovery and development, and growing focus on sample integrity and compliance,” GMI stated in a summary of the report.
Market Breakdown: Compound vs. Biological Sample Storage
The market includes a wide range of products used to manage sample storage and retrieval in healthcare, medical research, and drug development. Systems used to store, track, and retrieve chemical compounds accounted for nearly 60% of the market in 2024, with pharmaceutical companies as the primary drivers. Systems used to manage biological samples amounted to approximately 30% of the market.
The report identifies several key factors that are driving this growth. Among them, an increase in the number of biobanks and high-throughput genomic research programs is “significantly driving the growth in sample volumes,” GMI noted. “This trend is boosting the demand for scalable automated storage systems in laboratories.”
Photo copyright: Artem Podrez
Other drivers include new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). GMI noted that these systems are increasingly deploying AI “to automate sample identification, optimize retrieval processes, and reduce errors.” In addition, labeling techniques such as radio frequency identification and 2D barcodes “have minimized manual intervention while decreasing human mistakes to allow quicker inventory assessments and enhanced traceability,” GMI stated.
However, GMI also noted challenges that could hinder market growth, including high upfront costs and questions about data security.
Regional Trends and Leading Companies in Sample Storage Automation
North America currently boasts the largest market for these systems, an estimated $533.3 million in 2024, GMI reported. However, the Asia Pacific region will see the highest CAGR, growing at a rate of 11.9% through 2034.
GMI identified Brooks Automation as the market leader with a 20% share in 2024. The company’s product line includes PathFinder systems designed to automate management of biological samples in pathology labs, such as sorting, decapping, sealing, and archiving of specimens.
The other top players, GMI said, are Thermo Fisher Scientific, SPT LabTech (formerly TTP Labtech, Hamilton Company, and Beckman Coulter.
Interestingly, the report noted several recent developments involving Hamilton Company, including a 2024 deal with Platomics to register its liquid handling systems with the latter’s PlatoX regulatory platform. This will make it easier for clinical labs in the EU to comply with the region’s In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) when deploying internally developed tests, the companies stated in a press release.
Meanwhile, a July report from Exactitude Consultancy is projecting similarly robust growth in the automated biobanking market.
The market, estimated at $1.02 billion in 2024, will grow to $3.12 billion by 2034, a CAGR of 11.9%, the company said.
The report noted many of the same growth drivers—and challenges—identified by GMI. Drivers include technological advancements as well as the growth of personalized medicine and the need for long-term sample preservation for research related to cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disease.
“The automated biobanking market is on the cusp of a revolution, not only enhancing the speed and precision of sample management but also enabling cross-border biomedical collaboration, rare disease research, and pandemic preparedness,” the company stated in a press release. “As personalized medicine and digital health accelerate, investments in smart biorepositories will become foundational to innovation in diagnostics, drug discovery, and population health.”
— Stephen Beale
