Europe Whole Slide Imaging Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis - by Type, Application, and End User

The whole slide imaging market in Europe is expected to grow from US$ 152.37 million in 2022 to US$ 405.60 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 17.7% from 2022 to 2028.

Increasing emphasis on achieving better diagnostic outcomes is extensively driving the demand for digital pathology. Growing acceptance of digital pathology and whole-slide imaging is universal among academic health centers, pathology departments, and the nation’s largest pathology companies. Many private practice pathology groups in the United States now recognize that digital pathology is the path forward for the entire profession. Most academic pathology departments and large pathology lab companies have integrated digital pathology (DP) and whole-slide imaging (WSI) into many of their lab’s daily activities. This growing demand for digital pathology solutions is expected to increase the adoption of whole slide imaging, which would eventually drive the market during the forecast period.
The whole slide imaging technology is capable of providing long-term tissue study, 3D image reconstruction, detailed cell counting and analysis, and stereological analysis. For instance, in October 2020, OptraSCAN launched OS-Ultra, a high-speed whole slide scanner for digital pathology. The device is capable of high-speed and high-quality image scanning in order to streamline the workflow and reduce errors. Such benefits of whole slide imaging for digital pathology are estimated to have positive impact on the market growth. Significant number of market players are focusing on raising investments for digital pathology. As the technology provides an efficient way for superior diagnostics, digital pathology is expected to witness extensive surge in adoption in years to come. For instance, in December 2020, Proscia raised around US$ 23 million through rounds of series funding to accelerate the adoption of digital pathology. Moreover, in April 2019, Deep Lens, a digital pathology start-up raised US$ 13.65 million with the help of series funding. The company operates in cancer clinical trials and raised this amount for consolidation of its digital pathology platform. Such investments are likely to drive the adoption of digital pathology, thereby boosting the market growth by 2028.

Market Overview

Europe region includes France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, and rest of Europe. Germany is expected to witness a steady growth rate during the forecast period.
Increasing preference for digital pathology platform in Germany is one of the prominent factors contributing to the growth of the Germany whole slide imaging market. For instance, in October 2020, Marien hospital Stuttgart signed 10 years’ strategic contract with Philips Healthcare to consolidate its digital healthcare functionalities in order to improve patient care and treatment outcomes. The hospital is also planning to consolidate its digital pathology platform with the help of Philips’s digital pathology slide scanners and computer workstations. Additionally, in July 2020, TietoEVRY and Hyland Healthcare along with three other companies entered into strategic partnership to deliver digital pathology solution in the region. Rising number of technological developments in whole slide imaging is also anticipated to drive the market in Germany. These developments are responsible to boost the adoption of the technology, which is in turn offering a lucrative opportunity for the market growth. For instance, in August 2016, Glencoe Software and ZEISS entered into strategic partnership to develop open-source file reader for whole slide imaging systems. In addition, the software is likely to offer better functionalities for digital pathology platforms. Such developments are projected to drive the Germany whole slide imaging market growth during the forecast period.

Europe Whole Slide Imaging Market Segmentation

The Europe whole slide imaging market is segmented into type, application, end user, and country.

• Based on type, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware segment registered the largest market share in 2022.
• Based on application, the market is segmented into telepathology, cytopathology, immunohistochemistry, and hematopathology. The telepathology segment held a larger market share in 2022.
• Based on end user, the market is segmented into academic research institutes, hospitals, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, and laboratories. The academic research institutes segment held the largest market share in 2022.
• Based on country, the market is segmented into Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain

Rest of Europe. Germany dominated the market share in 2022.

3DHISTECH Ltd.; Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.; Indica Labs; Inspirata Inc.; Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH (Danaher); Nikon Corporation; Olympus Corporation; Visiopharm A/S; Akoya Biosciences, Inc.; and Koninklijke Philips N.V. are the leading companies operating in the whole slide imaging market in the region.