Scientific Research and Development Services Market Report 2025

The scientific research and development services market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $865.46 billion in 2024 to $940.33 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to corporate R&D investments, government funding for research, environmental research, defense and aerospace research, globalization of research.

The scientific research and development services market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.38 trillion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to renewable energy research, space exploration, pandemic preparedness, human genetics research, smart cities research, remote sensing and earth observation. Major trends in the forecast period include artificial intelligence (AI) in research, global collaboration in research projects, innovation in materials science and nanotechnology, integration of data science in research methodologies, robotics and automation research.

The forecast of 10.2% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. Trade tensions may disrupt U.S. innovation by inflating prices for laboratory automation equipment and data analysis software developed in Japan and Sweden, potentially slowing breakthroughs while increasing research and development expenditures. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The anticipated rise in the scientific research and development services market is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Chronic diseases, characterized by long-lasting conditions that develop over an extended period, are a focal point for scientific research and development services. These services contribute to advancing medical science by conducting clinical trials, testing innovative drugs and therapies, and creating cutting-edge medical devices aimed at addressing chronic diseases. As of September 2022, the World Health Organization reported that 74% of the 41 million global annual deaths were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or chronic diseases. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 17.9 million deaths, cancer for 9.3 million, chronic respiratory diseases for 4.1 million, and diabetes for 2 million deaths. This surge in chronic diseases underscores the driving force behind the growth of the scientific research and development services market.

The rising demand for new products is anticipated to drive growth in the scientific research and development services market in the future. New products are defined as goods or services that are either newly developed or improved and introduced to the market. Scientific research and development services are essential in creating new products by conceptualizing, designing, and developing them, as well as exploring new technologies and materials, gaining a competitive advantage, ensuring compliance, and conducting market research. For example, in February 2024, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, a US-based professional membership organization, reported that the FDA authorized 16 new personalized treatments for patients with rare diseases in 2023, a significant increase from the six approvals granted in 2022. Therefore, the growing demand for new products is propelling the growth of the scientific research and development services market.

Leading companies in the scientific research and development services market are actively forging strategic partnerships to influence the trajectory of drug discovery and development. Collaboration and partnerships play a vital role in this market, serving as catalysts for innovation, accelerating drug development processes, and fostering new discoveries. An illustrative example is the collaboration between Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company based in France, and Atomwise, a US-based technology-enabled pharmaceutical company. In August 2022, these companies entered into a strategic multi-target research collaboration, leveraging Atomwise's AI-powered drug discovery capabilities. Atomwise's AI technology is employed to identify potential drug candidates among small molecules, predicting both efficacy and safety. This strategic partnership exemplifies the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing drug discovery within the Scientific Research And Development Services market.

Leading companies in the scientific research and development (R&D) services market are progressing with innovative solutions, including specialized R&D centers dedicated to crop protection formulations to address agricultural challenges such as pest resistance, crop yield enhancement, and sustainable farming practices. These specialized R&D centers are research facilities focused on developing, testing, and refining solutions that protect crops from pests, diseases, and other detrimental factors. For example, in April 2023, Astec LifeSciences, an India-based contract development and chemical manufacturer, opened a new research and development (R&D) center aimed at creating innovative crop protection formulations. This facility is designed to improve the company’s capabilities in developing advanced solutions for sustainable agriculture, particularly to tackle the evolving challenges in crop protection. Through this initiative, Astec LifeSciences intends to explore new technologies that enhance the effectiveness and environmental safety of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.

In May 2022, ZS Associates, a US-based management consulting services firm, acquired Intomics A/S for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to enhance ZS's pharmaceutical drug discovery and development capabilities by integrating advanced bioinformatics, systems biology, AI, and data analytics, which will facilitate the development of innovative medicines with better patient outcomes. Intomics A/S is a US-based company that specializes in scientific research and development (R&D) services that improve pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.

Major companies operating in the scientific research and development services market include Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Volkswagen AG, Alphabet Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Microsoft Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Siemens AG, Roche Holding AG, Intel Corporation, IBM Corporation, Merck & Co. Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Novartis International AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Qualcomm Incorporated, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), IQVIA Holdings Inc., Battelle Memorial Institute, Piramal Group and WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Charles River Laboratories Inc., Frog Design, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LLC, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Jackson Laboratory, Sanofi S.A., GlaxoSmithKline plc.

North America was the largest region in the scientific research and development services market in 2024. Asia-Pacific was the second largest region in the scientific research and development services market. The regions covered in the scientific research and development services market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the scientific research and development services market report are Australia; China; India; Indonesia; Japan; South Korea; Bangladesh; Thailand; Vietnam; Malaysia; Singapore; Philippines; Hong Kong; New Zealand; USA; Canada; Mexico; Brazil; Chile; Argentina; Colombia; Peru; France; Germany; UK; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; Ireland; Italy; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Russia; Czech Republic; Poland; Romania; Ukraine; Saudi Arabia; Israel; Iran; Turkey; UAE; Egypt; Nigeria; South Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp rise in U.S. tariffs and the ensuing trade tensions in spring 2025 are taking a toll on the professional services sector, especially within legal, consulting, architectural, and engineering fields. Increased duties on imported technology, software, office hardware, and digital infrastructure have pushed up operational costs for firms that rely on global systems and resources. Cross-border consulting engagements are experiencing delays and higher expenses due to elevated travel costs and limited access to international data and tools. Moreover, industries heavily impacted by tariffs such as manufacturing, construction, and logistics are reducing their reliance on outsourced services, dampening demand for professional support. In response, service providers are reassessing pricing models, strengthening ties with domestic vendors, and accelerating the adoption of AI and automation to maintain profitability and client satisfaction in an increasingly volatile environment.

Scientific research and development services play a crucial role in systematically conducting original research to acquire fresh knowledge and utilize research findings or scientific insights for the creation of new or enhanced products and processes.

These services encompass various categories, such as social sciences and humanities services, physical, engineering, and life sciences, nanotechnology services, and biotechnology services. Nanotechnology involves the precise manipulation of matter at the near-atomic level to generate novel structures, materials, and technologies. This technology holds significant promise for diverse sectors, including medical, consumer goods, energy, materials, and manufacturing.

The scientific research and development services market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides scientific research and development services market statistics, including scientific research and development services industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a scientific research and development services market share, detailed scientific research and development services market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the scientific research and development services industry. This scientific research and development services market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The scientific research and development services market consists of revenue earned by entities that engage in research and experimental development on a contract, consultancy, or outsourced basis. Scientific research and development services establishments undertake processes where human capital is the major input. They make available the knowledge and skills of their employees, often on an assignment basis, where an individual or team is responsible for the delivery of services to the client. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.