While the United States remains the largest market for laboratory automation, the year 2026 has seen a massive "eastward" shift in bioproduction capacity. Countries like China, India, and Japan are investing billions into "Smart Biofactories" that utilize fully automated cell culture lines to produce vaccines and biologics at an unprecedented scale. This regional growth is driven by a combination of government support for regenerative medicine and the need to provide affordable healthcare to rapidly aging and massive populations.

Insights into the Automated Cell Culture Market show that the Asia-Pacific region is currently the fastest-growing market, with an annual growth rate exceeding 11%. Major CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations) are building "lights-out" facilities in Singapore and South Korea where robotic arms handle thousands of cell culture flasks simultaneously. This level of automation allows these regions to compete globally on price while maintaining the ultra-high quality standards required for modern medicine.

Moreover, 2026 has seen the rise of "localized" automation solutions tailored specifically for the needs of the Asian market. These include modular systems that can be quickly deployed in smaller facilities or integrated with traditional medicine research. By combining high-speed robotic manufacturing with a focus on regional health needs, the Asia-Pacific region is not just catching up to the West—it is setting the standard for the future of automated, large-scale bioproduction.

• Why is it called a "lights-out" facility? These are factories so highly automated that they can operate in total darkness because they don't require human workers to be present on the floor.

• What is a CDMO? A Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization is a company that helps other pharmaceutical firms develop and manufacture their drugs on a contract basis.

Do you think the shift of bioproduction to automated factories in Asia will lead to much cheaper medicines for everyone

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