19 March 2024
Many laboratories predict that 2024 will bring not only growth and an increasing demand for materials, but also continuing staff shortages and rising prices for consumables. Despite these challenges, today’s labs are optimistic about the future. Sustainability is increasingly important, while a majority of labs see artificial intelligence (AI) as an opportunity. These are some of the findings of the latest survey from Starlab International, involving more than 350 scientists and researchers from Germany, the UK, Italy, France, and Austria. Many laboratories have not only successfully recovered from the pandemic, but have emerged stronger than before.
“Sustainability and AI have the potential to become game changers – for people and for the environment. It sounds somewhat contradictory, but in a laboratory context, machine intelligence will place people at centre stage. The potential impact on society and health is huge. The survey shows that the scientific community has been aware of this for a long time. The important thing now is to create the political framework so that Europe isn’t left behind”, says Klaus Ambos, President and CEO of Starlab International.
The life science industry is once again well prepared for taking the next step into the future, at least in terms of materials. For the first time, 67 percent of the scientists surveyed reported sufficient supplies of liquid handling products and no delivery delays – the best results since 2020 (57 percent). By way of comparison, the figures for 2022 were only 43 percent, and 23 percent for 2021. The figures also indicate that laboratories are stockpiling fewer materials. Only 3 percent still plan on hoarding stocks for peak periods in 2024 (compared to 7 percent in 2023, 13 percent in 2022, and 12 percent in 2021).
Demand for materials rises, and security of supply is restored
“Laboratories have come to realise that manufacturers have done their homework and are once again able to deliver reliably. Trust in security of supply has been restored. Laboratories are ordering what they need instead of what they think they might need”, says Klaus Ambos. His company and key suppliers had also responded to supply bottlenecks by relocating production from abroad to Germany. According to the survey results, the new security of supply is the result of newly created capacities rather than a decline in demand. Only one in ten facilities (11 percent) reported a decrease in their material consumption in 2023. Some 61 percent require the same amount of material as in the previous year, while 28 percent require even more. For 2024, 68 percent expect demand to remain the same and 27 percent anticipate an increase in demand for materials, while only 5 percent will require less material.
New challenges: prices and personnel
In view of this new baseline, laboratories are anticipating different challenges in 2024 compared to previous years. Worries about rising prices for consumables are now the biggest challenge in the United Kingdom for 48 percent of respondents, followed by concerns about staff shortages (23 percent). “While freight rates have levelled off again, we are still faced with high follow-up costs”, says Ambos with regard to electricity costs and inflation-related factors.
Growing environmental awareness in the industry: Sustainable and economical purchasing behaviour
Despite – or perhaps because of – the challenges posed by price dynamics and staff shortages, laboratories are embracing the two trends of sustainability and artificial intelligence. According to the Starlab survey, 9 out of 10 labs believe that sustainability is becoming increasingly important for laboratories. As a result, 95 percent are already reducing waste wherever possible, 92 percent are actively reducing their energy consumption, and 75 percent are increasing order size to reduce transport emissions and packaging waste. More than one in three laboratories (72 percent) also regularly carry out training on environmental issues or order sustainably produced or reusable products. Klaus Ambos: “We are seeing a paradigm shift in the laboratory sector within a single decade. For years, single-use products have been the main choice, and many believed that material accuracy considerations would prevent the widespread use of recycled materials. This has changed. Lab operations are becoming increasingly sustainable.”
One in ten laboratories already uses AI
In 2024, sustainability in laboratory operations has progressed from being only a question of mindset and feasibility to a competitive factor. “The more organisations and companies work towards climate neutrality, the morethe companies supplying those laboratories have to be prepared to improve their ecological footprint”, says Ambos. According to the President and CEO of Starlab, artificial intelligence is also playing a key role alongside ecology, and laboratories are recognising this.
63 percent of the 306 respondents believe that the relevance of AI in laboratories is growing. The industry is receptive: 67 percent see AI as an opportunity and only 33 percent as a risk. The figures indicate that researchers are taking a forward-thinking approach to tackling the shortage of skilled labour by using digital technology. Machine learning has come to play an integral role in today’s laboratories. According to 12 percent of the respondents (8 percent of UK respondents), machine intelligence has already significantly changed day-to-day laboratory operations, while 21 percent (28 percent in the UK) believe that AI is well on the way to seeing widespread use. A majority of 45 percent (38 percent in the UK) expect AI to significantly change the face of laboratory work in the next five years.
Unlike in many other industries, the use of AI in laboratories can make a real contribution to people’s lives. Admittedly, 81 percent of respondents hope to achieve greater efficiency and 63 percent anticipate cost savings, but the real impetus comes from the fact that AI is changing the nature of work itself. “It’s not just about providing digital advantages, convenience, or making work easier through AI. Life scientists are seeking to improve our lives. AI is opening up new dimensions by increasing the pace of research and the ability to detect diseases and cure them. Self-learning applications provide support for both simple and complex processes”, says Ambos. This generates entirely new synergies and opens up valuable opportunities for research. 57 percent of respondents hope that AI will free up more time for valuable teamwork and 52 percent are looking for more support in tackling complex research questions. Ambos: “Artificial intelligence places people at centre stage. AI is a fertile ground for creating a sense of purpose, positivity, and passion in laboratories.”
AI: Data protection a huge concern, job losses a minor one
At the same time, laboratory staff and researchers are aware of the limitations of AI. Respondents’ biggest concerns centred on the lack of legal regulations (69 percent), followed by concerns about data protection and insufficient transparency (both 68 percent). A majority of respondents were also worried about ethical concerns, potential loss of creativity, and limited verifiability. Only a minority were afraid that lab jobs would soon be taken over by AI applications, with 9 percent expressing serious concerns and 20 percent reporting some anxiety. Klaus Ambos: “AI is clearly knocking loudly on laboratory doors. It offers opportunities that are not only recognised but also utilised.”