ABB Robotics collaborates with Roche to bring physical AI to laboratories

• Agreement lays the foundation for a new era of digitally connected labs enabled by intelligent robotics to provide significant efficiencies in laboratory workflows • First applications under collaboration will support pathology slide handling and autonomous connectivity in Core Lab intralogistics • Range of ABB Robotics’ technologies deployed, including autonomous mobile manipulation and fixed articulating robots

ABB Robotics has announced a global collaboration with Roche Diagnostics to develop and bring to market new robotic solutions for clinical laboratories. The collaboration lays the foundation for a new era of connected labs that are flexible, fast and reliable to meet the growing demands of modern healthcare.

"The collaboration is a major milestone in accelerating lab automation, introducing more autonomous and versatile robotics (AVR™) into clinical laboratories at scale," said Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics. "With Roche, we will be able to bring the latest physical AI to labs all around the world, addressing major challenges that are hindering labs from providing the best outcomes for patients."

The healthcare sector, where roughly 70 percent of treatment decisions rely on diagnostic testing , is under increasing strain, with laboratories facing workforce shortages as fewer professionals enter demanding and intensive lab roles. Coupled with aging populations and a growing shift toward personalized medicine, the need to accelerate testing and improve efficiency has never been greater.

The collaboration with Roche will focus on creating automation solutions at scale, that will accelerate critical lab processes such as sample preparation and intra-logistics to help laboratories provide faster and more efficient diagnostics for improved patient care.

The first applications under the collaboration are focused on two important laboratory areas. With Roche's pathology business segment, ABB Robotics will develop solutions that support slide handling and organization, helping laboratories move toward more digital, connected workflows.
In central diagnostics labs - Roche's largest laboratory testing segment - ABB Robotics will use autonomous mobile manipulators to move samples and materials between instruments, providing greater connectivity, flexibility, and consistency for faster processing. These applications represent a strong opportunity to enhance efficiency in clinical diagnostics - robots can take on repetitive tasks, freeing lab staff to focus on more critical work, while adding flexibility to existing automation in the laboratory.

"Partnering with ABB Robotics allows us to bring a new level of robotic automation to laboratories of all sizes - it's about vital flexibility and consistency in clinical diagnostics," says Marc Boehm, Lifecycle Leader for Core Lab at Roche Diagnostics. "By automating repetitive tasks, we empower laboratory staff to focus on complex analysis, which directly accelerates the journey from diagnosis to critical treatment decisions for patients."

ABB Robotics will be responsible for developing industrial-grade lab solutions, drawing on its automation expertise, global manufacturing presence and its broad AI-powered robotics portfolio, which is orchestrated by ABB Robotics' software.

Roche will bring in its leading diagnostic expertise and application knowledge to ensure the solutions are tailored to the needs of laboratories in real clinical settings.

The collaboration with Roche reflects ABB Robotics' broader strategy of working with partners across the laboratory ecosystem to address critical bottlenecks in lab operations. By leveraging physical AI - where robots learn from real-world data and adapt to dynamic environments - ABB Robotics is advancing scalable, flexible lab automation solutions that improve efficiency, support faster decision-making to help laboratories deliver more reliable patient outcomes.

¹ U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), FDA and CMS Statement: Americans Deserve Accurate and Reliable Diagnostic Tests, January 18, 2024.

ABB Robotics as one of the world's leading robotics companies, is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated AI-powered portfolio covering robots, cobots and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), designed and orchestrated by our value-creating software. We help companies of all sizes and sectors - from automotive to electronics and logistics - to outperform by becoming more resilient, flexible and efficient. ABB Robotics is at the forefront of developing and commercializing a new generation of Autonomous Versatile Robotics (AVR), leading a global innovation ecosystem of partners in advancing efficient hardware and intelligent software with industrial-grade performance. The business employs approximately 7,000 people. go.abb/robotics