With Ireland being home to nine of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical companies as well as a strong cluster of home-grown Irish ones, there is a strong ecosystem that is fostering innovation and shaping the future of global healthcare. However, trends from AI, sustainability to data analytics are having a significant impact on reshaping laboratory environments in the country, which will impact the way organisations operate their laboratories.

As your business approaches a new year and finalise plans, it’s important that you are aware of these trends and ready to navigate the challenges they bring before issues arise. The expert technicians and scientists at Lennox are here to help you through these challenges, so keep reading below to learn the main trends that your laboratory needs to be aware of in 2025. 

1. Achieving Innovation with Automation 

As laboratories expand, intelligent lab automation that utilises AI and robotics can help offer efficient and innovative lab environments for organisations. Automation in the laboratory is not new and laboratories are ever-changing. However, the fast advance of AI can help provide real-time insights and visualisations for laboratories, which can in turn, enhance research, efficiency and resource management in the lab. The advance of smart labs also brings the potential of laboratories being able to operate 24 hours a day with minimal human supervision. 

TechXplore suggests with continued development, “robotics and automation will improve the speed, precision and reproducibility of experiments across diverse instruments and disciplines.” While they note the important of creative solutions like robotics, they also note how it’s important to look at ways to integrate these with researchers in the lab environment. 

2. Growing Sustainability Concerns 

As environmental concerns continue to rise worldwide, the importance of sustainable laboratories is more apparent than ever. Laboratories are not only looking for ways, but are expected to become more environmentally sustainable. From energy-efficient lab equipment, sourcing sustainable materials to implementing waste management systems, government legislation will impact the day-to-day processes for laboratories in many ways. For example, the proper recycling of hazardous waste is a legal requirement enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland.  

For laboratories, sustainability also covers the workforce and its external reputation – how it’s perceived by potential talent, partners, clients, competitors and external stakeholders. Now, companies such as My Green Lab are providing laboratory certifications, which showcase how labs uphold a worldwide standard for sustainable practices. The Healthcare sector is responsible for “4–5% of global greenhouse gas emissions” so laboratories must look to become more sustainable such as implementing cloud-based systems and sharing equipment when possible. 

3. Advances in Data Analytics and Predictive Modelling  

By utilising advanced data tools, your laboratory can efficiently process vast datasets to forecast trends, improve diagnostic accuracy and optimise research outcomes and workflows. Additionally, compliance with the EU’s Data Protection Act and other data protection laws in Ireland such as the Data Protection Act will also become important when organisations introduce these processes.  

With our fully customisable Vendor Managed Inventory system, customers who have specific measurement parameters can build these into the system and create unique reports. Within this process, predictive modelling has helped anticipate and address supply chain issues before they arise for customers. This process is extremely cost-effective, helping to track and record laboratory resources. The tools also can help laboratories minimise human error, as the number of manual checks can be reduced. 

4. Ease of Training and Procedures with Augmented Reality (AR)  

Researchers have already been exploring how AR can be widely implemented for learning in university laboratories and STEM schools, allowing students to build confidence, their skillset while promoting lab safety. For laboratories, AR can help technicians to visualise complex procedures.  

With AR-enabled devices, laboratories will have access to real-time guidance and troubleshooting capabilities. In the long run, implementing this technology can enhance medical training, helping to improve patient outcomes. One example involves the recent FDA clearance of multiple AR and VR (virtual reality) tools for cardiology lab procedures. 

Partner with Lennox to Future-Proof Your Business 

With these and even more technological trends changing the industry as we know it and impacting the way laboratories operate across the world, 2025 will be an important year for your laboratory.  

By combining 100 years of experience with the latest technical expertise, we are dedicated to delivering best-in-class laboratory solutions. If you are looking for advice on how to stay ahead of these transformative trends and focus on your important work, contact customerservice@lennox.ie or visit www.lennox.ie.