ABB Robotics and Roche Partner to Integrate Physical AI into Clinical Laboratories

ABB Robotics has announced a global collaboration with Roche Diagnostics to develop and commercialize new robotic solutions for clinical laboratories. The partnership aims to create a new generation of digitally connected labs that are more flexible, fast, and reliable, addressing the growing demands of modern healthcare through the integration of physical AI.

First Applications in Pathology and Core Lab Workflows

The initial focus of the collaboration is on two key laboratory areas. In Roche’s pathology segment, ABB Robotics will develop solutions to automate slide handling and organization, helping labs transition toward fully digital, connected workflows. In central diagnostics labs, the largest testing segment for Roche, ABB will deploy autonomous mobile manipulators to move samples and materials between instruments, enhancing connectivity, flexibility, and consistency for faster processing.

Addressing Workforce and Efficiency Challenges

The healthcare sector is under increasing strain, with about 70 percent of treatment decisions relying on diagnostic testing. Laboratories face persistent workforce shortages, aging populations, and a shift toward personalized medicine, all of which heighten the need for accelerated testing and improved efficiency. By automating repetitive tasks such as sample preparation and intralogistics, the new robotic solutions aim to free laboratory staff to focus on more complex analysis, directly supporting faster and more reliable patient outcomes.

Executive Insights

“The collaboration is a major milestone in accelerating lab automation, introducing more autonomous and versatile robotics 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.”

Marc Boehm, Lifecycle Leader for Core Lab at Roche Diagnostics, emphasized the value of flexibility and consistency. “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. 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.”

Technology and Ecosystem Strategy

ABB Robotics will contribute its industrial-grade automation expertise, global manufacturing presence, and AI-powered robotics portfolio—including autonomous mobile robots, cobots, and fixed articulating robots—all orchestrated by ABB’s software. Roche will provide its deep diagnostic expertise and application knowledge to ensure solutions are tailored to real clinical settings.

The collaboration reflects ABB Robotics’ broader strategy of working with partners across the laboratory ecosystem to address critical bottlenecks. By leveraging physical AI—where robots learn from real-world data and adapt to dynamic environments—ABB aims to deliver scalable, flexible lab automation that improves efficiency and supports faster decision-making, ultimately helping laboratories provide more reliable patient outcomes.

The source for this article is https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/news/2026/07/09/abb-robotics-collaborates-with-roche-to-bring-physical-ai-to-laboratories-/26827/.