The future of laboratory automation urgency, technology and strategy

The commercial application of laboratory robotics is entering its eight year. Developments in general purpose computer and software technology combined with developments in laboratory robotics have contributed to significant improvements in performance, reliability, and ease-of-use. The need for high quality laboratory automation continues to increase. Competitive pressure for higher quality and lower cost products and the shrinking supply of qualified technical people demands more effective use of our people resources. This presentation will develop the need for a new role and broader contribution from automation to the laboratory of the future. Specifically, I will discuss the critical decrease in the number of young people embarking on careers in chemistry and science and how automation can help make these career opportunities more challenging and exciting. The second part of the presentation will discuss the evolution of laboratory robotics technology and project some of the trends ahead.