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The global fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy market size accounted for USD 336.70 million in 2024, grew to USD 356.70 million in 2025, and is expected to be worth around USD 599.57 million by 2034, registering a healthy CAGR of 5.94% between 2024 and 2034.
The global fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy market size is worth around USD 336.70 million in 2024 and is anticipated to reach around USD 599.57 million by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.94% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2034.
The term FLIM refers to techniques for mapping excited-state lifetime spatial distribution of emitting molecular species with nanosecond and microsecond temporal resolution. Thus, the collection of decay-time data serves as the foundation for the images generated by FLIM during fluorescent microscopy. Regardless of whatever FLIM technique is utilized, each quantitative image is created using the variations in a species' exponential decay time, which is related to the fluorophore's molecular environment rather than its concentration. In addition to offering a distinct contrast mechanism to aid in identifying the fluorophore's local environment, FLIM is an efficient complement to the fluorescence spectroscopy methods used to produce "conventional" fluorescence images.
Studies concentrating on the metabolic states of cells and tissues, such as the assessment of ion concentration (i.e., ion imaging) or oxygen concentration (i.e., oxygen imaging), can benefit greatly from FLIM techniques. FLIM is also used to quantify Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), which permits nanometer-scale distance measurements. FLIM is mainly used in two ways: (1) Time-domain FLIM, which employs a pulsed light source with either time-gated (i.e., wide-field) or time-correlated (i.e., single-point) detection, and (2) Frequency-domain FLIM, which makes use of a sinusoidally modulated light source with either a modulated single-element detector for scanning or single-point detection or a sinusoidally modulated intensified CCD detector for wide-field imaging. The growth in the market is mainly driven by various factors including the growing prevalence of cancer, increasing investment in cell biology, growing government initiatives, the increasing product launch in the market and rising partnerships among the market players.
| Report Coverage | Details |
| Market Size in 2024 | USD 336.70 Million |
| Market Size by 2034 | USD 599.57 Million |
| Growth Rate from 2024 to 2034 | CAGR of 5.94% |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Base Year | 2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 to 2034 |
| Segments Covered | Type, Application, and Region |
| Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa |
Growing prevalence of cancer across the globe
The growing prevalence of cancer across the globe is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. For instance, globally, there were 17.0 million new instances of cancer and 9.5 million cancer-related deaths in 2018, according to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The increase in the population and ageing, it is projected that by 2040 there would be 16.3 million cancer deaths and 27.5 million new cancer cases globally. Thus, the growing prevalence of cancer across the globe is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.
High cost
One of the key factors impeding the market's growth is the high cost of sophisticated microscopes and software subscriptions. Because of technological advancement, there has been a change in how microscopes are used. High-end microscopes like electron, scanning probes, and digital ones are becoming more and more popular in place of conventional ones because of their high feature sets, greater resolution, and magnification capability. However, the $25,000 to $2,000,000 price range of these microscopes severely limits their use in small firms, labs, and hospitals. Thus, this is expected to hamper the market growth during the forecast period.
The growing demand for pharmaceutical and cell biology research
The FLIM market is anticipated to grow as a result of the increased need for cell biology and pharmaceutical research. Research into possible drug candidates and substances created to be utilized as medicines to treat diseases is referred to as pharmaceutical and cell biology. This sector researches, creates, and produces medicines that are used to treat diseases, minimize their symptoms, and immunize people against them.
To see and understand the structure and function of cells, researchers frequently use microscopy techniques in pharmacology, biosimilars, stem cell research and other biological studies. For instance, according to IQVIA, a US-based multinational corporation that serves the combined industries of health information technology and clinical research, deal activity and investment flows in venture capital have increased over the last two years as interest in life sciences has increased, with more than 2,000 agreements and $47 billion in deal value expected to close in 2021.
In 2021, the 15 largest pharmaceutical companies also spent a record $133 billion on R&D. The FLIM market is therefore anticipated to increase as a result of the increasing need for cell biology and pharmaceutical research.
Based on the type, the global fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy market is segmented into time-domain, frequency-domain, and others. The frequency-domain segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The primary benefit of frequency-domain FLIM is its quick lifetime image capture, which is ideal for dynamic applications like live cell research. The full field of view is excited semi-continuously using relatively broad excitation pulses, and it is read out at the same time. In light of this, frequency-domain lifetime imaging may be almost immediate.
On the other hand, the time-domain segment is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period. Fast-gated image intensifiers or time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) are two methods for measuring fluorescence decay in the time domain. Fast-detecting circuits and short, high-intensity excitation pulses are required for a measurement. Sequentially stimulated points in the sample are all present. Using Photo Multiplier Tubes (PMTs) or equivalent single photon counting detectors, TCSPC logs a histogram of photon arrival timings at each spatial point.
Fluorescence intensity is measured by fast-gated image intensifiers throughout a range of periods. Lifetimes are determined from exponential fits to the decay data using both time domain methodologies. Multi-exponential lifetimes can be retrieved if enough channels (time windows) are used. Thus, owing to the advantages of these technologies are expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.
Based on the application, the global fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy market is divided into biology & medical, academic institutes, the chemical industry and others. The biology & medical segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2023 and is expected to continue the same pattern during the forecast period. The segment growth is attributed to the growing prevalence of lung cancer and growing research on cell biology.
Moreover, the increased funding for cancer cell biology research also propels the market expansion over the projected period. For instance, according to the Cancer Council, in 2016-18, approximately $252 million in funding was provided in Australia for cancer projects and programs. Thus, this is expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.
North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The market growth in the region is attributed to the increasing prevalence of lung cancer. The majority of deaths from cancer are caused by lung cancer. However, the diagnostic yield of current sampling procedures is not perfect. Early detection improves outcomes. When determining the best location for a biopsy of a suspected lung cancer, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, an autofluorescence-based method that gauges endogenous fluorophore decay rates, may be helpful.
The American Cancer Society estimates the lung cancer in the United States in 2023 are:
Moreover, the increasing elderly population in the US is another factor that promotes the growth of the market during the forecast period. These populations are more prone to various diseases which include cancer such as cancer. For instance, as per the same source, lung cancer mostly occurred in the older population. Most incidence of lung cancer was coming from older people with the age range of 65 or above. Thus, the growing older population is another important factor that penetrates the market expansion during the forecast period.
Furthermore, the robust healthcare infrastructure, the presence of major players, the increasing adoption of modern devices, and increasing investment in R&D are all of the major factors that propel the growth of the market during the forecast period.
The Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The regional growth is attributed to various factors such as the growing prevalence of lung cancer and increasing investment in advanced microscopy devices. For instance, according to Cancer Australia, in Australia, lung cancer was the most common cancer diagnosed in the population with about 13,078 new cases (7,168 males and 5,910 females) in 2018. Whereas, in 2022, it is estimated that 14,529 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in Australia (7,707 males and 6,822 females).
Moreover, the increasing foreign direct investment in the region for the healthcare industry is expected to be one of the leading factors that drive the growth of the FLIM market. For instance, according to UNESCAP, the United States made approximately 35% of all health-related greenfield investments in the Asia-Pacific area between 2008 and 2021, making it the top investor in the industry.
The next greatest sources of investment after the United States were Switzerland, Japan, Germany, and France. Sixty-six percent of all health-related investments in the Asia-Pacific region were made collectively in those five nations. Thus, the growing prevalence of lung cancer and increasing investment in the healthcare sector offer a lucrative opportunity for market growth in the region.
Segments Covered in the Report
By Type
By Application
By Geography
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