Small Scale Bioreactors Market

Small Scale Bioreactors Market Overview

The small scale bioreactors market, which includes mini bioreactor and micro bioreactor, is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% during the forecast period. With several blockbuster therapies (such as Humira®, Rituxan®, Lantus®, Avastin®, Herceptin® and Remicade®) and a robust pipeline of product / therapy candidates, the global market of biopharmaceuticals is anticipated to witness significant growth in the next few years. However, it has been established that biologic drug development is a complex, time-consuming and capital-intensive process. These complex molecules require highly engineered specialized equipment, innovative downstream technologies, optimal storage and handling conditions, to ensure safety, efficacy and stability. In addition to the development of biologics, there remains a need to improve productivity, growth medium, process development and process optimization. Over time, a variety of advanced technologies and process analytical tools have been developed to accelerate the overall process. Traditionally, the process involves screening of cell lines in shake flask cultures, testing of successful candidates in bench-top bioreactors prior to pilot-scale studies. The need to carry out a large number of cell cultivations has resulted in the deployment of small-scale bioreactor systems, also known as mini bioreactors, which can process culture volume ranging from 250 mL to 15 L and offer a high-throughput solution to process development. These mini bioreactors allow scaling-down mammalian and microbial cell processes, scaling up the production by generating products in a more concentrated form. In addition, mini bioreactors enable faster experimental throughput at relatively lower costs and allow parallel bioprocessing of samples, thereby reducing the downtime and increasing the number of batches produced in a given period of time.

Presently, more than 55 mini bioreactors, developed by around 30 companies, are available for high-throughput media cultivation, process development and optimization. The stakeholders are taking several initiatives to incorporate a variety of features for monitoring of different control parameters, such as CO2 levels, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature ranges, thereby allowing the users to analyze and determine essential conditions of the culture environment and optimize the overall performance. Further, the growing interest in precision medicine has also brought up the demand for small-scale production and fast turn-around time of such products. Driven by the growing biopharmaceutical pipeline, the need for efficient and faster process development and manufacturing solutions, the overall small scale bioreactors market is anticipated to witness steady market growth during the forecast period.

Key Companies in Small Scale Bioreactors Market

Examples of key companies engaged in small scale bioreactors market (which have also been profiled in this market report; the complete list of companies is available in the full report) include Eppendorf, Biosan, Bionet, Pall Corporation, Merck Millipore, Sartorius, Cytiva and Distek. It is interesting to note that in July, 2022, PBS Biotech entered into a supply agreemetn with Stemcell Technologies to make its PBS-MINI Bioreactor available to researchers therough Stemcell Technologies. This small scale bioreactors market report includes an easily searchable excel database of all the companies providing mini bioreactor and micro bioreactor, worldwide. 

Recent Developments in Small Scale Bioreactors Market:

Several recent developments have taken place in the field of mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors. We have outlined some of these recent initiatives below. These developments, even if they took place post the release of our market report, substantiate the overall market trends that have been outlined in our analysis.

• In April 2023, Cytiva launched X-platform bioreactors with 50 and 200 L capacity to simplify single-use upstream bioprocessing operations. 
• In December 2022, MilliporeSigma acquired Erbi Biosystems offering 2 ml micro bioreactor platform technology, known as the Breez™ with an aim to strengthen its upstream portfolio in therapeutic proteins by enabling scalable cell-based perfusion bioreactor processes from 2ml to 2000L.

Scope of the Report

The ‘Small Scale Bioreactors Market, 2022-2035: Distribution by Type of Cell Culture (Mammalian, Microbial, Viral, Insect and Others), Mode of Operation (Batch/Fed-Batch and Continuous), End User (Biopharmaceutical Industry and Academic Institutes) and Key Geographical Regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World): Industry Trends and Global Forecasts’ market report features an extensive study of the current landscape, market size and the likely future potential of companies manufacturing mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors, during the forecast period. The market research report also features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various industry stakeholders engaged in small scale bioreactors market.

In addition to other elements, the study includes:

• A detailed assessment of the overall market landscape of mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors based on a number of relevant parameters, such as status of development, type of cell culture (mammalian, microbial, viral, insect and others), mode of operation (batch/fed-batch reactor and continuous reactor), typical working volume, weight of the bioreactor, stirrer speed, and other parameters controlled (dissolved oxygen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, and temperature). In addition, it presents details of the companies manufacturing mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors, highlighting their year of establishment, size of employee base, and geographical presence.
• Elaborate profiles of prominent players (shortlisted based on number of products being offered) engaged in the development of mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors. Each company profile features a brief overview of the company, along with information on year of establishment, number of employees, location of headquarters and key members of the executive team. It also includes details of their respective product portfolio, and recent developments and an informed future outlook.
• A detailed competitiveness analysis of mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors, taking into consideration several relevant parameters, such as the working volume, stirrer speed, and mode of operation.
• An in-depth analysis of over 250 patents that have been filed / granted for mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors, between 2016 and 2022 (till March), highlighting key trends associated with these patents, across type of patents, publication year, issuing authorities involved, emerging focus area, patent age, CPC symbols, leading patent assignees (in terms of number of patents granted / filed), patent characteristics and geography. It also includes a detailed patent benchmarking and an insightful valuation analysis. 

One of the key objectives of this market research report is to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future market size of small scale bioreactors market. Based on multiple parameters, such as overall biopharmaceutical manufacturing market, overall single-use bioreactors market, share of mini bioreactors and micro bioreactors technologies, and likely adoption trends, we have provided an informed estimate on the market evolution during the forecast period 2022-2035. The market report also features the likely distribution of the current and forecasted opportunity within the small scale bioreactors market across various segments, such as [A] type of cell culture (mammalian, microbial, viral, insect and others), [B] mode of operation (batch/fed-batch reactor and continuous reactor), [C] end-user (biopharmaceutical / pharmaceutical industries and academic / research institutes) and [D] key geographical regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and rest of the world). In order to account for future uncertainties and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three market forecast scenarios, namely conservative, base and optimistic scenarios, representing different tracks of the industry’s growth.

All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this report are in USD, unless otherwise specified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What are small scale bioreactors?

Answer: Small-scale bioreactors, also known as a mini bioreactors, can process culture volume ranging from 250 mL to 15 L and offer a high-throughput solution to process development for mammalian and microbial cell processes.

Question 2: How big is the small scale bioreactors market?

Answer: The small scale bioreactors market size is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion in 2022.

Question 3: What is the projected market growth of the small scale bioreactors market?

Answer: The small scale bioreactors market is expected to grow at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% during the forecast period 2022 - 2035.

Question 4: Who are the leading companies in the small scale bioreactors market?

Answer: Examples of key companies engaged in small scale bioreactors market (which have also been profiled in this market report; the complete list of companies is available in the full report) include Eppendorf, Biosan, Bionet, Pall Corporation, Merck Millipore, Sartorius, Cytiva and Distek.

Question 5: How many patents related to small scale bioreactors market have been filed / granted till date?

Answer: Till date, over 600 patents have been filed / granted related in the small scale bioreactors market.

Question 6: How many small scale bioreactors are currently available in the market?

Answer: Presently, more than 55 small scale bioreactors, developed by around 30 companies, are available for high-throughput media cultivation, process development and optimization.

Question 7: Which region is the hub for companies engaged in the small scale bioreactors market?

Answer: Europe emerged as the hub for companies engaged in the small scale bioreactors market for drug discovery applications, with over 55% of the companies established in the region.

Question 8: What are the advantages of small scale bioreactors?

Answer: These small scale bioreactors or mini bioreactors allow scaling-down mammalian and microbial cell processes, scaling up the production by generating products in a more concentrated form.