Soft Robotics Market Report 2025

This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The soft robotics market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $1.84 billion in 2024 to $2.29 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased application in medical robotics, versatility in gripping and manipulation, interest from defense and military sectors, consumer electronics and wearable robotics, automation in agriculture.

The soft robotics market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.76 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion in the food and beverage industry, environmental monitoring and exploration, global health and safety concerns, standardization and commercialization, customization for specific applications. Major trends in the forecast period include bio-inspired design and biomimicry, soft sensors and feedback systems, integration of artificial intelligence (ai), soft exoskeletons for human augmentation, collaborative robots (cobots).

The soft robotics market is anticipated to witness growth due to the burgeoning adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT represents an interconnected system of computing devices and machinery capable of transferring data autonomously. Soft robotics harness IoT sensors to develop advanced solutions that are not only safer but also more adaptable and user-friendly. These innovations hold promise across diverse sectors such as healthcare, automation, and environmental monitoring. As per Ericsson's report in September 2022, global IoT connections surged to 13.2 billion and are projected to rise by 18%, reaching 34.7 billion connections by 2028. Hence, the widespread adoption of IoT technologies fuels the expansion of the soft robotics market.

Government initiatives aimed at supporting robotics, including soft robots, are anticipated to significantly drive the growth of the soft robots market. These initiatives encompass a range of governmental actions that provide assistance to various sectors and industries, facilitating innovation and development. For example, in July 2024, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a UK-based organization, reported that the UK government introduced the Advanced Manufacturing Plan in November 2023. This plan allocates £4.5 billion (approximately $5.86 billion) in targeted funding over five years, starting in 2025, specifically to bolster the manufacturing sector, with a focus on key industries such as automotive. Such government backing not only encourages research and development in soft robotics but also fosters collaboration between public and private sectors, thus propelling the growth of the soft robots market.

Prominent companies in the soft robotics sector prioritize the development of innovative technology, such as soft robotic hand rehabilitation gloves equipped with soft exoskeleton technology, to cater to customer needs effectively. These gloves are personalized wearables designed to aid individuals with hand impairments in their recovery and rehabilitation process. For instance, Siyi Intelligence, a China-based medical equipment manufacturer, introduced the HRC12 in November 2022 - a new iteration of SYREBO soft robotic hand rehabilitation gloves integrating the latest advancements in soft exoskeleton technology. This model features improved training modes such as fine motor training and stretching exercises, making rehabilitation services more accessible and realistic, even within the comfort of one's home.

In December 2022, Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc., a medical equipment manufacturing company based in the United States, successfully acquired the human motion and control business unit of Parker Hannifin Corporation for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition allowed Ekso Bionics to broaden its product line and explore new market opportunities by incorporating Parker's uniquely powered and adaptable Indego exoskeletons into its portfolio. Parker Hannifin Corporation, also based in the United States, is a manufacturer specializing in motion and control technologies, including the production of exoskeletons and wearable robots.

Major companies operating in the soft robotics market report are Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., Fanuc Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Festo Group, Ocado Group PLC, QinetiQ Group plc., Ottobock SE & Co KGaA, SRI International Inc., Universal Robots, Piab Group Holding, SoftWear Automation Inc., Doosan Robotics Inc., Disney Research, Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc., Innophys Co. Ltd., Shadow Robot Company Limited, ReWalk Robotics Inc., Artimus Robotics Inc., Octopus Robotics Incorporated, Rethink Robotics Inc., Robotnik Automation SLL, Schunk GmbH, Roam Robotics Inc., ULC Robotics Inc., RightHand Robotics Inc., Soft Robotics Inc., Tactile Robotics Ltd., Bristol Robotics Laboratory Limited, New Scale Robotics Inc., Southie Autonomy.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the soft robotics market in 2024. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the soft robotics market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the soft robotics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The soft robotics market consists of sales of robotic muscles, prosthetic robots, and wearable robotics. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

Soft robotics is a specialized field within robotics that focuses on the design and fabrication of robots constructed from pliable, flexible materials and structures, with the aim of mimicking the natural movements and functionalities observed in living organisms. This technology finds applications in various domains, including surgery, prosthetics, pain management, and space exploration.

The primary types of soft robotics include soft grippers, cobots (collaborative robots), inflated robots, and exoskeletons. Soft grippers are robotic end-effectors that replicate the dexterity and flexibility of human hands, utilizing flexible and compliant materials such as elastomers or soft plastics. These soft robotic systems consist of various components, including hardware and software, and cater to diverse end-users, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, food and beverages, logistics, and others.

The soft robotics market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides soft robotics market statistics, including soft robotics industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a soft robotics market share, detailed soft robotics market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the soft robotics industry. This soft robotics 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 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.

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