SPECTARIS Robotics Trend Forum 2024
Innovations for the Future of Laboratories and Health Care
Robotics is undergoing rapid change worldwide and is increasingly establishing itself as a key technology in laboratories, hospitals, and industry.
The SPECTARIS Robotics Trend Forum, which took place on December 11, 2024, at the Karl Storz Visitor Center in Berlin, highlighted the latest developments and challenges in robotics. With approximately 100 participants from industry, research, and politics, the event provided a platform for inspiring insights and lively discussions.
Robotics: A Strategic Area of Focus for Germany
Germany is not only the largest market for industrial robotics in Europe, but also an international pioneer. However, the true opportunities for growth lie beyond traditional industrial applications—particularly in service robotics. With impressive global growth of 36 percent in the medical technology and healthcare sectors in 2023 alone, the enormous potential of these technologies is evident.
“Robotics is not just a technology, but a strategic opportunity for Germany,” emphasized SPECTARIS Managing Director Jörg Mayer. In light of demographic change and the shortage of skilled workers, robotics is becoming a key solution for increasing efficiency while simultaneously strengthening Germany’s position as a business location in the long term.
Innovations in Laboratory and Medical Technology
The 2024 Trend Forum focused on two key areas of application that exemplify the transformation brought about by robotics:
- Laboratory Technology:Collaborative robots (cobots) and AI-powered automation solutions are revolutionizing everyday lab work. They take over monotonous, repetitive tasks such as sample management, increase precision, and minimize errors. This not only creates space for innovative research but also improves diagnoses and treatment methods.
- Medical Technology:Robot-assisted systems enable more precise and less invasive procedures. Applications such as robot-assisted cancer therapy, necrosis-free bone cutting, and machine vision open up new possibilities for patient safety and recovery. Developments are also advancing in the consumer sector, for example with massage robots and hair transplant robots.
High-profile speakers from the fields of research and industry impressively demonstrated how robotics is transforming the way we work and live:
Challenges and Future Prospects
The integration of artificial intelligence is considered a key technology for the coming years. However, in addition to technical advances, establishing a clear regulatory framework remains a central task in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of robotic systems.
The high level of participation and the lively exchange of ideas at the SPECTARIS Robotics Trend Forum underscore the importance of robotics for the future of laboratories, hospitals, and industry. SPECTARIS plans to continue this dialogue through additional events and formats in order to promote innovation and strengthen collaboration between industry, research, and policymakers.
Robotics is not just a technological advancement—it is a response to the challenges of our time and an opportunity to actively shape the future.
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Spectaris Press Release on the Topic
What Our Members Say
SPECTARIS acts as a strong association that vigorously represents the interests of its members in the political, business, and social spheres.
“SPECTARIS acts as a strong association that vigorously represents its members’ interests in the political, business, and social spheres. As members, we have the opportunity to actively raise our concerns and help shape the agenda to ensure that our voice is heard in relevant political and social discussions. In addition, through SPECTARIS, we have access to a broad network of companies, experts, and decision-makers from the high-tech industry. This allows us to forge valuable contacts and leverage synergies. Through this exchange, we and other members can benefit from each other’s experiences and expertise.”
Frank-Martin Rammelt, Managing Director of seleon GmbH
Together, we are strong.
Together we are strong—That is why we value the strong network and the open and excellent collaboration within the association, which allows us, as one of the leading manufacturers, to work together on solutions to the modern challenges in the contact lens industry, to collaborate on joint campaigns, and to capitalize on identified trends.
Johannes Zupfer, General Manager for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, CooperVision GmbH
Advancing Photonics
Photonics is one of the most innovative key industries and places high demands on the organizations that represent its interests. SPECTARIS meets these demands in a compelling manner. As a strong industry association, SPECTARIS effectively represents the interests of its members in the political, business, and social spheres, while also promoting exchange and networking within the industry. We thank SPECTARIS for this commitment and greatly value our trusting collaboration.
Dr. Ralf Kuschnereit, JENOPTIK AG
OBE relies on high-quality products “Made in Germany.”
OBE relies on high-quality products “Made in Germany.” Thanks to innovation and automation, spring hinges and security screws can be manufactured in large quantities at the Ispringen facility. This goes hand in hand with increased productivity and a division of labor for simple products at our facility in China. In this way, we secure jobs in Germany.
Peter Specht / Erik Schäfer - Managing Directors, OBE
Community makes us strong!
For us as medium-sized companies, the SPECTARIS association serves as a bridge between the government and our interests—our collective strength makes us stronger! We appreciate the very helpful continuing education program in the field of medical technology and benefit from the organization of a wide variety of delegation trips. Our membership in SPECTARIS also ensures that we receive regular updates on new regulatory requirements.
Maik Greiser, Managing Partner / CEO, ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG
The association offers services that are perfectly tailored to our needs.
Our industry association, SPECTARIS, is a strong advocate for the interests of medium-sized, owner-managed companies like ours. It is just as important to us that the association provides a platform for open dialogue among member companies and offers services—such as industry reports and events focused on specific topics—that are perfectly tailored to our needs.
Managing Partners of Jüke Systemtechnik GmbH, Martin Hovestadt (left) and Heinrich Jürgens (right)
A Voice for Medical Technology
For us as a medical technology manufacturer, SPECTARIS serves as an important voice in our dealings with policymakers. Especially in light of the current MDR, it is immensely important to have a strong and effective association to represent our interests. We are very satisfied with our collaboration and feel well represented.
Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk, Managing Director of KaWe – KIRCHNER & WILHELM GmbH + Co. KG
Innovation drives us forward
Demands are growing, markets are changing—but innovation opens up new paths for us. With digital progress, bold ideas, and modern processes, we are shaping the standards of tomorrow. As a SPECTARIS member, we leverage the strength of the network to actively shape the future in this dynamic environment.
Fabian Bohnen, COO / Stephan Börner, CEO, Ofa Bamberg GmbH
What we particularly appreciate about SPECTARIS is its technical expertise.
As a medium-sized medical technology company, Richard Wolf benefits greatly from SPECTARIS’s extensive network. We particularly value their technical expertise.
Management of Richard Wolf GmbH: Mr. Pfab, Mr. Steinbeck
It's worth getting involved!
In times of rapid and far-reaching changes in the medtech industry and a challenging regulatory environment, SPECTARIS is an important partner for our company and plays an indispensable role as an advocate for our interests in Berlin and Brussels. It’s worth getting involved!
Bert Sutter, Managing Director, Sutter Medizintechnik GmbH
We want to be a trusted partner for our laboratory customers, both today and in the future.
SPECTARIS’s in-depth information on industry and technology trends, as well as the regulatory landscape, is just as important to us as its advocacy work in Berlin and Brussels. The dedicated SPECTARIS team is always a great point of contact for us.
Dr. Christoph Schöler, Managing Partner, BRAND GMBH + CO KG, VACUUBRAND GMBH + CO KG
A voice for the industry
In a diverse and specialized industry such as analytical technology—which is highly technical and subject to numerous regulatory requirements—small specialists compete with large technology conglomerates. SPECTARIS succeeds in uniting the interests of all its members and serves as the industry’s collective voice and advocate.
Albrecht Sieper, Managing Director of Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH
SPECTARIS is the ideal platform.
SPECTARIS provides us with the ideal platform for constructive dialogue with member companies and serves as a reliable voice for the laboratory industry in the realms of politics and science.
Dr. Gunther Wobser, Managing Partner of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG
SPECTARIS fosters collaboration in our industry.
“The very informative discussions at SPECTARIS in Berlin and here at our office convinced me of SPECTARIS’s commitment and the quality of its work. In particular, the opportunity to combine topics from analytical, biotechnology, and laboratory technology with the field of medical technology is very interesting for Sigma,” I wrote upon joining in 2011. This has been confirmed, and today we are actively involved in several working groups.
Dr. Michael Sander, Managing Director of Sigma Laborzentrifugen GmbH
National advocacy group puts the spotlight on the industry
Laser Components benefits from the industry association in a variety of ways. As a company, we value the broad exchange of information within the working groups—whether in human resources, marketing, or export control, customs, and foreign trade practices. For our industry, Spectaris also serves as a political voice—the Photonics Trade Association not only maintains constant communication with the BMWi and BMBF ministries but also provides information on European initiatives.
Patrick Paul, Managing Director of LASER COMPONENTS GmbH
A Voice for Innovative Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
In the century of the photon, we need an advocacy group that is both strong and responsive. For us, as providers and consultants for the most innovative products on the global photonics market, this institution is particularly important. We know our interests (e.g., in the area of foreign trade) are in good hands, and we can focus on what matters most: satisfying our customers.
Andreas Börner, Managing Director of Laser 2000 GmbH
Our membership in the SPECTARIS industry association is of great value to us.
It not only gives us access to a strong network of leading companies across various high-tech industries, but also provides an important platform for professional exchange and continuing education. In addition, we benefit from the association’s strong advocacy with policymakers, the business community, and society at large, which plays a crucial role in creating a sustainable framework for the future. Through our membership in SPECTARIS, we can contribute our expertise, address current developments at an early stage, and jointly drive innovation and sustainable growth.
Frank Billhardt, Laser Protection Division EMEA, LASERVISION GmbH & Co. KG
