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FUTURE OF LAB EQUIPMENT IN INDIA
Karan Chechi
The field of scientific research and experimentation has always been crucial for the progress of societies. In India, as the scientific community continues to expand, so does the demand for advanced laboratory equipment. With rapid technological advancements and a growing emphasis on research and development, the future of lab equipment in India holds immense potential. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics are transforming laboratory workflows, enhancing productivity, and accelerating scientific breakthroughs. India's laboratories are adopting stateoftheart equipment such as highthroughput screening systems, nextgeneration sequencing platforms, advanced spectroscopy instruments, and automated liquid handling systems. These advancements not only streamline processes but also improve the quality and reliability of research outcomes. The expansion of the laboratory equipment manufacturing industry in India is being aided by the government's increased investment in R&D and large capital spending in the industry. As per National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), the total number of testing laboratories in India was reported to be 8037. Maharashtra has the highest number of testing laboratories which is 1306 and Ladakh is reported to have only 1 testing laboratory which is the lowest of all states and union territories in India.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), robotics, and AI could possibly form the new nervous system for healthcare, offering solutions to issues in the sector and assisting the government in achieving the goals. Since there are so many diagnostic samples that need to be examined daily in labs and research centers, modern labs are concentrating on the newest tools and technology for disease diagnosis. All types of laboratory research facilities are in desperate need of better safety protocols.
These days, laboratory equipment includes a variety of various safety and preventive devices for the identification of chronic diseases in addition to the traditional cups, beakers, and test tubes. The country's increase in clinical diagnostic testing is proving to be a gamechanger for the market for making laboratory equipment. In September 2022, the 'Made in India', 'AIpowered' Cath lab, Optima IGS 320, was introduced by GE Healthcare. It makes use of the GEexclusive AutoRight technology. It is the first interventional image chain based on a neural network. Clinicians can concentrate on patients because of its artificial intelligence feature, which automatically optimizes image and dosage settings in real time. The biotechnology and life sciences sectors are witnessing remarkable growth in India. This expansion is driving the demand for specialized lab equipment to support research in areas such as genomics, proteomics, drug discovery, and personalized medicine. The future of lab equipment in these sectors will involve innovative technologies like gene editing tools (such as CRISPRCas9), advanced cell culture systems, highcontent imaging platforms, and bioinformatics solutions. The convergence of biotechnology, data science, and precision medicine presents exciting opportunities for India to become a global hub for cuttingedge research and development. In May 2023, a recent study is published in Nature Communications, the authors of the research develop a method to classify the rough surfaces that distinguish particles in a mixture using physics and machine learning. The method, which employs a physicsenhanced autocorrelationbased estimator (PEACE), could alter how pills and powders are manufactured in the pharmaceutical industry, improving accuracy and efficiency while reducing the number of defective batches of pharmaceutical products. In September 2020, RoboRXN, a selfcontained chemistry lab from IBM, combines robotics, AI, and cloud computing. RoboRXN is a cloudbased AI model that has been created to work autonomously, much like a robot, using machine learning algorithms to produce chemicals and medications in a laboratory with little to no human involvement. Such a development not only speeds up the drug discovery process while cutting costs, but it also maintains social distance norms by enabling the development of new medications in times of medical emergency. In India most of the radiology equipment are getting imported leading to affordability constraints as a result of which most hospitals and diagnostic centres prefer using second hand or refurbished equipment. However, under Production Linked Incentives scheme various companies including Allengers Medical Systems Limited, Wipro GE Healthcare Private Limited will start manufacturing of various medical devices used in radiology procedures in India in the coming years. Another expanding market that is redefining laboratories is home testing. Since most test results are given manually by patients or entered into shared datamonitoring systems, it is decentralized. These over the counter, athome diagnostic kits are reasonably priced. It can be said that by incorporating athome instant testing into a patient's medical regimen, future labs will enable patients to play a more active role in their own care. It won't come as a surprise when patients can update critical information in their medical records using digitally connected handheld devices made for home use. Future labs will present sophisticated hospital and independent laboratories with fierce competition, particularly in light of the rising number of endemics. Today Aarthi Scans has more than 100+ branches across 10 states. Their radiologists review over 200,000 CTs, 250,000 MRIs, and 2.1 million chest Xrays annually. A lot of advancements are happening in the radiology industry due to improving healthcare scenario in the country. This includes the adoption of teleradiology services. This digital platform enables storing, sharing and interpreting of radiology images across India. 5C helps hospitals and diagnostic centers maximize the Return on Investment on their radiology machines by making specialists available 24x7. Programs such as the Department of Science and Technology (DST) grants, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) schemes, and the Atal Innovation Mission are supporting scientific research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. eLIXA is an AI device, that automates the sample collection, measurements, and analytics of the product.
To ensure a bright future for lab equipment in India, fostering collaboration between academia, research institutions, and industry is crucial. Such partnerships facilitate knowledge exchange, access to cuttingedge technologies, and the development of practical solutions to realworld challenges. Industries can provide valuable insights into emerging trends and market demands, enabling researchers to align their efforts accordingly. Joint initiatives can also lead to the development of custommade lab equipment tailored to specific research requirements, thereby strengthening India's position in scientific innovation. In March 2023, Under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) program, a specialized laboratory for Flow Chemistry and process intensification has been established in the School of Chemistry at the University of Hyderabad (UoH).
Faster reaction times, cheaper, more flexible production, and minimal waste generation are just a few benefits of flow chemistry and continuous manufacturing over the traditional batch processes used in chemistry labs and industries for more than a century. In January 2023, Haber announces opening of laboratory, incorporating companies’ flagship product eLIXA for the development of analytical sensors and focussing on chemical research that will accelerate the development of green chemistry.
The author is research director, TechSci Research
