OSMS · INSIGHTS
MicroTAS · 2020–2025

Six years of
microfluidics, mapped.

4,311
presentations analysed
One field. Six host cities. A grassroots view of how the technology, the diseases and the geography are shifting.
Chapter 01 · Technology

The Technology Landscape

Total entries by technology · MicroTAS 2020–2025 combined
Chapter 02 · Momentum

Who's rising. Who's fading.

Share-of-presentations change between 2020 and 2025

↑ Biggest winners

↓ Losing ground

Chapter 03 · Geography

The field is going global.

28%→10%
USA share of presentations halved as Asia-Pacific and Europe surged. The host effect now shapes every conference — a home crowd can triple local output.
Chapter 04 · The big picture

Six narratives you'll see below.

Scroll to explore the full dashboard ↓

MicroTAS 2020-2025: Technology Evolution

Six years of microfluidics research tracked across 4,311 presentations • How the field is changing at the grassroots

This analysis was produced to identify trends in microfluidics research, drawn from MicroTAS conference proceedings. It was in part produced using AI and may contain inaccuracies.

MicroTAS 2026 — Barcelona, Spain →

Conference Scale
Growth & Participation Over 6 Years

Total Presentations per Year

Countries Represented

2022 (Hangzhou) saw a significant dip to 504 presentations — the lingering COVID travel effect. The field bounced back massively in 2024 (Montréal) with a record 952. International collaboration peaked at 24.4% in 2024.
Technology Trends
How Key Technologies Have Evolved (% of presentations)

Established Technologies

Rising Technologies

Technology Growth: 2020 → 2025 (% change in share)

Biggest winners: Digital Microfluidics/EWOD (+393%), LNP/mRNA (+311%), and Organ-on-Chip (+230%). Fading: Paper-based microfluidics (-39%) and centrifugal platforms are losing mindshare.
All Technologies
20 Technologies: 6-Year Trajectory
Disease Focus
What Health Problems Is the Field Targeting?

Disease Mentions Over Time

COVID Research Trajectory

Cancer has grown relentlessly: from 5.0% to 6.7%. The COVID/respiratory curve: peaked at 20 presentations in 2021, declined to just 3 in 2025. Cardiovascular research has quietly tripled (1.1% → 2.4%).
Geographic Shifts
How National Participation Has Changed

Top Countries Across Years

The Host Effect

The host effect is enormous: China 53→170 in 2022, Canada 38→196 in 2024, Australia 16→120 in 2025. USA dominance eroded: 28% → 10%.
The Big Picture
Six Key Narratives in Microfluidics (2020-2025)

1. From Fluid to Biology

The field's center shifts from fluid handling toward biological applications. Organ-on-chip (+230%), EV research, and single-cell analysis now collectively outweigh droplet microfluidics.

2. COVID's Lasting Legacy

COVID itself is fading (20→3), but its infrastructure is permanent: LNP/mRNA (+311%), point-of-care (+66%), PCR (+21%) all got lasting boosts.

3. AI Enters the Lab

AI/ML grew from 3 presentations in 2020 to a dedicated track in 2024. Still ~1%, but the trajectory mirrors early droplet microfluidics.

4. Digital MF Breakout

EWOD/digital microfluidics: 3 presentations (2020) to 32 (2024) — +393% share increase. Driven by single-cell genomics and immunoassays.

5. Globalization Deepens

US share halved (28%→10%) while Asia-Pacific and Europe surged. Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and India are now structurally embedded.

6. Paper-based Sunset

Paper microfluidics declined 39% in share. The field moved toward 3D printing and sophisticated sensing (electrochemical, plasmonic).