the microscope market | Italy

1.1 Definition and scope of study

A microscope is an instrument for obtaining a magnified image of a small object. There are three different types of microscopes: 

·       the optical microscopes

·       electron microscopes

·       local probe microscopes. 

There are also other types of microscopes on the market, such as the ion microscope.

Microscopes are mainly used for: 

·       biology and medicine

·       academic institutions 

·       chemical industries

Globally, the microscopes market has grown a lot in recent years. In 2019, it reached a value of around $7.1 billion and is projected to reach even $9.8 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% year-on-year. 

In Italy, the microscope market can also be defined as growing.

The main players in this market both globally and in the Italian territory are: Olympus, Leica, Zeiss, Becker & Hickl, HORIBA, PicoQuant, Bruker, Nikon, Lambert, Jenlab. 

The development of more technologically advanced microscopes enables faster performance. In addition, new advanced sample preparation techniques are expected to stimulate the demand for microscopes in the coming years.

For this reason, one trend to consider within this industry is definitely digitization. It is necessary for microscope manufacturers to keep up with the latest technological advances in order to develop increasingly sophisticated products that meet the increasingly specific needs of customers. A recent innovation is that of digital cameras specifically designed for microscopes that allow for much higher resolution than in the past. 

Another technological innovation to be taken into account in the microscope market is the use of fluorescence in augmented reality that allows to observe the natural colors of some parts of the body such as the brain and therefore to perform surgical operations in a safer and more efficient way.