Necessity. New Potential. Refocusing. What is holding europe's labs back – and what will move them forward. 

For the first time, lack of budget ranks as the biggest challenge facing laboratories.

• In 2026, 44 % of respondents cite insufficient funding as their main problem. Just one year earlier the situation looked different.
• In 2025, rising prices for consumables dominated the industry’s concerns, with 42 % identifying this as a big challenge.
• Today the issue has shifted from price pressure to a more fundamental shortage of financial resources.

"The problem seems to be less cyclical than structural. This is a warning signal," says Benedikt Geldmacher-Voss, Head of Starlab Group. "If financing becomes the number one concern, the entire future viability of the industry will come under pressure." 

• 57 % of laboratories have introduced active cost cutting measures. This represents a slight decline compared with 64 percent in the previous year. Where the savings are being made, however, is cause for concern.
• 74 % are reducing spending on equipment and infrastructure, precisely the areas where future research capacity is built.
• 54 % have stopped new hires, despite the fact that the sector is already experiencing a shortage of skilled personnel. A further 22 percent have reduced funding for conferences and professional development.

"Those who save on investing in the future are saving on their own foundations," warns Geldmacher-Voss.

Employee satisfaction has also declined. In 2025, 76 percent of laboratory employees said they were satisfied with their work. In 2026 that figure has fallen to 63 percent. One in three respondents now reports a high or very high level of stress. 

"The potential for change is there – it just needs to be unleashed. Ready to unlock means the keys are on the table," says Lennart Walter, Product Manager at Starlab, responsible for TipOne^®, the pipette tip system that has established itself as Starlab's bestselling product.

The TipOne^® Recycling Service provides a clear example of how laboratories are willing to change behaviour when the right framework is in place. Laboratories return used PP packaging, which Starlab processes into granulate and uses to manufacture new racks, creating a fully closed material cycle. The development speaks for itself. Participation increased from 23 % of registered customers in 2024 to 31 % in 2025. Over the same period, the volume of granulate produced rose from 60 to 100 tonnes, representing growth of nearly 68 %. 

“Sustainability is not purely an environmental issue, but a cost factor. Those who think holistically across departmental boundaries can see that ventilation rates, temperatures and outdated routines offer considerable potential for savings. These savings can then be deliberately reinvested in AI skilled staff, future ready technology and sustainable processes.” 

According to the Starlab Barometer, recycling programmes, interdisciplinary cooperation and a willingness to innovate are no longer wishful thinking in laboratories.