Greener and smarter: Positive post-pandemic effects in the laboratory sector. 

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. 

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.”

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 more the 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.”