The Rapid Growth of the Medical Robotics Market: How Surgical Robots and Medical Automation are Revolutionizing the Healthcare Industry
Editor
As of 2025, the global medical robotics market is experiencing unprecedented growth momentum. According to the market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the size of the medical robotics market is projected to expand from $18.6 billion in 2024 to $35.9 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1%. Notably, the surgical robotics sector accounts for approximately 60% of the total market, driving growth, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning further enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of medical robots.
Several factors are contributing to this rapid growth. The most significant driver is the increased demand for medical services due to the aging population. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the global population aged 65 and over is expected to reach 770 million by 2025, a 38% increase from 2019, with their medical service utilization rate being more than three times that of the general adult population. Additionally, the heightened interest in contactless medical services following the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in demand for remote surgeries and automated medical services. The shortage of medical professionals is also accelerating the adoption of robots, with the U.S. expected to face a shortage of 124,000 doctors by 2025.
In the field of surgical robots, Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci system, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, continues to lead the market. As of the fourth quarter of 2024, there were over 8,600 da Vinci systems installed worldwide, a 13% increase from the same period the previous year. The number of surgeries performed using the da Vinci system exceeds 2 million annually, with high utilization in urology, gynecology, and thoracic surgery. Intuitive Surgical’s revenue for 2024 was $7.6 billion, a 14% increase from the previous year, with system sales accounting for $2.2 billion, instrument and accessory sales for $3.8 billion, and service revenue for $1.6 billion.
However, competitors challenging Intuitive Surgical’s dominant position are also active. Medtronic, headquartered in Oregon, New York, expanded the global launch of its next-generation surgical robot platform, the ‘Hugo RAS (Robotic-Assisted Surgery)’ system, at the end of 2024. The Hugo system entered the market at a price 30% lower than the existing da Vinci system and boasts a modular design that can be customized to meet various hospital requirements. Medtronic’s robotic surgery division revenue for the 2024 fiscal year was $420 million, a 67% increase from the previous year.
Stryker, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has also established a strong presence in the orthopedic surgical robot sector. Stryker’s Mako robotic system is showing high growth rates in the knee and hip replacement surgery fields, with Mako system sales surpassing $1 billion in 2024. Over 1,400 Mako systems are installed worldwide, and they are used in more than 400,000 surgeries annually. Stryker plans to launch a new spinal surgery robot system in 2025, aiming to further expand its market share in the orthopedic robotic surgery market.
Rapid Growth in the Asian Market and Korea’s Position
The Asia-Pacific region is recognized as the fastest-growing area in the medical robotics market. The size of the medical robotics market in this region is expected to expand from $4.2 billion in 2024 to $8.9 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 16.2%. China, Japan, and Korea are leading this growth, with active policy support and private investment from each country’s government creating a synergistic effect.
In Korea, the government is fostering the medical robotics industry as a next-generation growth engine through the ‘K-Medical Robot 2030 Strategy’ announced in 2024. According to this strategy, the goal is to secure world-class competitiveness in the medical robotics market by 2030, expanding the market size from the current 1 trillion won to 10 trillion won. CUREXO, a leading company in Korea’s medical robotics industry, obtained FDA approval for its spinal surgery robot ‘CUVIS-spine’ in 2024, paving the way for entry into the global market. CUREXO’s revenue for 2024 increased by 45% from the previous year to 28 billion won, with overseas sales accounting for 35% of the total.
Samsung Electronics is also increasing its presence in the medical robotics field. Samsung’s medical device division launched an AI-based automation solution linked to ultrasound diagnostic equipment in 2024, reporting a 15% improvement in diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, Samsung is collaborating with Hyundai Rotem to develop hospital service robots, aiming for commercialization in the first half of 2025. Hyundai Rotem invested 20 billion won in the medical robotics sector in 2024, accumulating expertise in rehabilitation and patient transport robots.
In the Japanese market, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Olympus are strengthening their partnership in the endoscopic surgical robot field. The endoscopic surgical robot system jointly developed by the two companies completed clinical trials in 20 hospitals in Japan in 2024, reducing surgery time by 25% compared to existing systems. In China, Siasun and MicroPort are making significant strides in the orthopedic and cardiovascular surgical robot sectors, respectively, continuing rapid growth under the support of the Chinese government’s ‘Made in China 2025’ policy.
Integration of New Technologies and Future Prospects
The next growth phase of the medical robotics industry is expected to be realized through the integration of artificial intelligence, 5G communication, and extended reality (XR) technologies. In particular, advancements in AI technology are dramatically improving the autonomy and accuracy of medical robots. The AI surgical robot system jointly developed by Johns Hopkins University and Google DeepMind demonstrated an accuracy rate of 98.3% compared to human doctors in clinical trials in 2024, showing superior performance in delicate suturing tasks. These technological advancements suggest the possibility of fully autonomous surgeries in the future.
The commercialization of 5G communication technology is increasing the feasibility of remote surgery. In a 5G-based remote surgery demonstration conducted in Beijing, China, surgery was successfully completed on a patient 3,000 km away with a latency of less than 1 ms. This demonstrates the potential for patients in regions with limited medical access to receive top-tier medical services. The 5G remote surgery project, a collaboration between Verizon and Johns Hopkins Hospital, recorded over 100 successful remote surgeries in 2024, with a patient satisfaction rate of 96%.
Remarkable growth continues in the rehabilitation robot sector as well. The Lokomat Pro, a gait rehabilitation robot developed by Switzerland’s Hocoma, reported a 40% improvement in stroke patients’ gait function recovery compared to traditional therapies. The global rehabilitation robot market is expected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $3.4 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 17.8%. The Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) wearable robot suit developed by Japan’s Cyberdyne is currently used in over 400 medical institutions worldwide, showing excellent results in muscle strength recovery and gait improvement for patients.
However, alongside the growth of the medical robotics industry, there are challenges to be addressed. The most significant barrier is the high initial investment cost. For the da Vinci system, the initial purchase cost ranges from $2 million to $2.5 million, with annual maintenance costs exceeding $150,000. This limits adoption by small to medium-sized hospitals and raises concerns about widening medical disparities. Additionally, significant time and cost are required for the education and training of medical professionals. Training a robotic surgery specialist requires an average of 6 months to a year of intensive training, imposing additional burdens on hospital operations.
Regulatory and safety issues are also important considerations. The FDA released new safety guidelines for medical robots in 2024, requiring more stringent verification procedures, particularly for AI-based autonomous functions. The European Union (EU) has also strengthened requirements for the safety and efficacy of robotic surgery systems through the Medical Device Regulation (MDR). These regulatory changes are factors that increase product development costs and time.
From an investment perspective, the medical robotics market still offers attractive growth opportunities. In 2024, venture capital and private equity investments in the medical robotics sector amounted to $3.2 billion, an 18% increase from the previous year. Investments are particularly concentrated in AI-based diagnostic robots and rehabilitation robots. Goldman Sachs projects that the medical robotics market will maintain a CAGR of over 15% until 2030, recommending a ‘buy’ rating on related stocks.
Going forward, the medical robotics industry is expected to continue its sustainable growth based on a virtuous cycle of technological innovation and market expansion. The expansion of medical infrastructure and the adoption of digital healthcare in developing markets will serve as new growth drivers, and the integration of AI and robotics technology is expected to fundamentally change the paradigm of medical services. At the center of these changes, companies with technological prowess and market adaptability will seize the leadership of the next-generation medical robotics market.
