Optical microscopes market

The global optical microscopes market was valued at US$ 2,473.0 Mn in 2022 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 3,824.1 Mn by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.64% between 2023 and 2030. The global optical microscopes market is experiencing strong growth due to the rise in funding for R&D in cell biology and biotechnology and technological advancements in optical microscopes. Moreover, rise in demand for optical microscopes and rise in prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases across the globe is expected to boost the growth of the market. However, factors such as limitations of optical microscopes and the availability of low-cost products are expected to hamper the growth of the global optical microscopes market.

Global Optical Microscopes Market: Regional Insights

Based on geography, the global optical microscopes market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

Among regions, North America is expected to gain highest share in the market over the forecast period owing to the rise in use of optical microscopy devices, increasing research and development activities, and introduction of technologically advanced techniques in the region. For instance, in December 2020, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) announced nearly US$ 32 million in funding to support biomedical imaging researchers, technology development, and Bioimaging North America international network of bioimaging facilities and communities. CZI’s imaging program aims to drive breakthroughs in curing, preventing, or managing disease by advancing the imaging field.

Moreover, Europe and Asia Pacific are also expected to witness robust growth in the global optical microscopes market due to the increasing research and development activities, rise in use of optical microscopy devices, favorable initiatives, and rapid development in the field of optical microscopy in these regions. For instance, in April 2020, EU-funded researchers employed quantum physics to develop an optical microscope that opens up the potential to view the tiniest of objects, including many viruses, directly for the first time. The EU-funded SUPERTWIN project’s goal was to create a new generation of microscopes making use of quantum physics.

Figure 1. Global Optical Microscopes Market Share (%), by Region, 2023

Global Optical Microscopes Market Drivers:

Increasing funding for R&D to augment market growth

One of the key factors expected to augment the growth of the global optical microscopes market over the forecast period is the increasing funding for research and development in cell biology and biotechnology. For instance, optical microscope is commonly used in many research areas, such as microbiology, cell biology, and biotechnology. In November 2021, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) announced more than US$ 5 million to advance bioimaging technologies, increase access to these tools, and build capacity for biomedical researchers. A funding will support projects increase access to imaging instrumentation and expertise for biomedical researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and former Soviet countries.

Technological advancements to underpin market growth

Another factor which is driving the growth of the optical microscopes market is the technological advancements in optical microscopes. For instance, market players are focusing on developing or launching novel, technological advanced optical microscope in the market. In August 2021, Vision Engineering Limited announced the launch of the DRV Stereo CAM, a new and innovative stereo camera system that converts optical stereo microscope in high magnification, definition 3D digital stereo microscope. The system combines all the benefits of high resolution optical microscopy and Vision Engineering’s patented DRV ‘glasses-free’ digital 3D stereo viewing technology.

Global Optical Microscopes Market Opportunities:

Increase in demand for optical microscopes is expected to provide significant growth opportunities for players in the global optical microscopes market. For instance, optical microscopes are used in research areas, such as microbiology, biotechnology, nanophysics, microelectronics, laboratories, and pharmaceutical research. They are also used to view biological samples for medical diagnosis in diagnostic centers. In June 2022, Hitachi High-Tech Corporation launched AFM100 Pro High-Sensitivity Scanning Probe Microscope System, a high-end scanning probe microscope equipped with high-sensitivity optical head that improves sensitivity when measuring physical properties and enables measurement at atomic and molecular scales.

Rise in prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases across the globe is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global optical microscopes market. For instance, the optical microscope is used to identify and diagnose microorganisms/viruses causing diseases in humans, animals, and/or plants. In August 2020, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awarded 11 grants of more than US$ 17 million to establish the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID). This will involve multidisciplinary investigations on viruses and other disease-causing microorganisms.

Global Optical Microscopes Market Trends:

Product development is a recent trend

Players in the market are focusing on developing and launching novel products in the market, as optical microscopes are commonly used in research areas such as microbiology, microelectronics, biotechnology, nanophysics, and pharmaceutical research. Moreover, the increase in new product development in the diagnostic domain and growing approval from the regulatory bodies encourage the further opportunities in the market. This trend is expected to continue over the forecast period, driving the growth of the global optical microscopes market.

Research and development (R&D) is another trend

Technological advancements have allowed digital images to be taken with complementary metal-oxide semiconductors and charge-coupled device cameras for optical microscopes. As a result, the image can be projected onto a computer screen in real-time to inspect a sample with these digital microscopes. For instances, focal modulation microscopy is a new method that combines confocal spatial filtering with focal modulation to reject out-of-focus backgrounds. Thus, an advancement over the optical microscopy expected to drive the market.

Global Optical Microscopes Market Restraints:

Limitations of optical microscopes to hinder market growth

One of the key factors expected to hamper the growth of the global optical microscopes market is the rise in adoption of or demand for electron microscopes worldwide. For instance, in comparison to the electron microscope, optical microscopy is a very useful tool for inspecting the appearance of a material in more detail, but it has significant limitations that limit its practical applicability. Moreover, electron microscope has certain advantages over optical microscopy. Such increasing advantages of an electron microscope over optical microscope are expected to hamper the growth of the optical microscopes market over the forecast period.

Availability of low-cost products to hamper market growth

Another factor which is hampering the growth of the optical microscopes market is the availability of low-cost products. For instance, small-scale manufactures offer the number of low-cost portable microscopes. DIY microscope makes highly adaptive optical technology accessible to educators (students) at a low cost by using low-cost materials. As the availability of low-cost devices attracts more customers, it inhibits optical microscope market growth.

Figure 2. Global Optical Microscopes Market Share (%), by Product, 2023

Global Optical Microscopes Market Segmentation:

The optical microscopes market report is segmented into Product, End User, and Geography.

Based on Product, the optical microscopes market is segmented into Digital Microscopes, Stereo Microscope, Inverted Microscopes, and Other Products. Of which, Digital Microscopes Segment is expected to dominate the global optical microscopes market over the forecast period and this is attributed to the increase in adoption of digital microscopes.

Stereo Microscope Segment is also expected to witness significant growth in the near future and this is owing to the increase in adoption of stereo microscopes. A stereo microscope allow the user to observe a three-dimensional view of the studied specimen.

Based on End User, the market is segmented into Hospitals and Clinics, Academic and Research Institutes, Diagnostics Laboratories, and Other End Users. Out of which, Hospitals and Clinics Segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period and this is attributed to the rise in global disease burden and increase in hospitalizations.

Academic and Research Institutes Segment is also expected to witness significant growth in the near future and this is owing to increase in research and development across the globe.

Global Optical Microscopes Market: Key Developments

In April 2022, ZEISS released the next generation of ZEISS Lattice Lightsheet 7 with improved gentleness and truly simultaneous multi-color imaging. ZEISS Lattice Lightsheet microscopy is tailored to observing cellular processes within cells and small organisms in 3D over extended time periods – all at subcellular resolution – with the minimum light dosage.

In April 2022, Leica Microsystems won 2022 Red Dot Award for its digital inspection microscope, Emspira 3. Emspira 3 is a digital microscope that performs comprehensive visual inspection with a single system, including comparison, measurement, and documentation sharing.

In February 2022, Nikon Corporation opened an advanced microscopy centre in San Francisco Bay area. A centre features the latest Nikon Instruments product technologies and expands access to organizations in the West Coast region to test and evaluate these systems.

In October 2021, Leica Microsystems launched a new generation of the M320 for micro-dentistry. M320 dental microscope offers ultra-high resolution imaging with an integrated 4K camera.

In May 2020, Miltenyi Biotec launched the Ultra Microscope Blaze, the first fully automated light sheet microscope. The new instrument enables users to image an entire mouse or multiple samples at subcellular resolution in 3D.

Global Optical Microscopes Market: Key Companies Insights

The global optical microscopes market is highly competitive. This is attributed to the increase in demand for optical microscope across the world, as a result, players in the market are focusing on launching novel products in the market.

Some of the key players in the global optical microscopes market are ACCU-SCOPE Inc., Agilent Technologies, AmScope, Bruker Corporation, Labomed, Inc., Olympus Corporation, Celestron, Nikon Instruments Inc., Meiji Techno, Carl Zeiss AG, Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, and Danaher Corporation (Leica Microsystems), among others.

*Definition: Optical microscope, also known as a light microscope, is a type of microscope that commonly uses visible light and a system of lenses to generate magnified images of small objects. It is commonly used in many research areas such as microbiology, biotechnology, nanophysics, microelectronics, and pharmaceutical research. It can also be useful to view biological samples for medical diagnoses, known as histopathology.

Detailed Segmentation:

• Global Optical Microscopes Market, By Product:
  • Digital Microscopes
  • Stereo Microscope
  • Inverted Microscopes
  • Other Products
• Global Optical Microscopes Market, By End User:
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Academic and Research Institutes
  • Diagnostics Laboratories
  • Other End Users
• Global Optical Microscopes Market, By Geography:
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa