Containing years of detailed research, this comprehensive study examines the ELN market, technology, requirements, best practices, legal issues, benefits, industry trends, and products.
Atrium Research, which describes itself as the only market research organisation dedicated to scientific informatics, has announced the release of the third edition of its report, Electronic laboratory notebooks: A foundation for scientific knowledge management.
Called the "definitive document on ELN" by Indiana University's School of Informatics, the 627 page report includes over 200 pages dedicated to reviewing the latest ELN software products from major suppliers.
Over 400 charts, tables, and figures illustrate key points.
"Starting in 2003, ELNs targeting synthetic chemistry began to take root at major companies," says Michael Elliott, CEO of Atrium Research.
"These systems, or specific ELNs, provided the tools to realise tangible user benefits such as enhanced research effectiveness and knowledge sharing.
"This changed the perception of ELN as an early adopter tool to an essential component of an informatics strategy.
"The net result has been an increase in the rate of adoption to the point that other domains, like biology and quality, are now demanding the technology.
"This fundamental change in the demand curve is forcing companies not to ask if they will invest in ELN, but when.
"ELN, now in the pragmatic sector the technology adoption lifecycle, is evolving toward establishment as a mainstream laboratory informatics technology".
The market potential for ELN is large at over US$1.7 billion; sales of supplier products and services were approximately US$ 43 million in 2006.
Revenue is growing at over 30% per year from the over thirty suppliers who serve the market.
As it has with other informatics technologies, the biopharmaceutical industry is taking the lead in ELN adoption, primarily to increase efficiency in lead optimisation, process research, formulation, pharmacology, and safety assessment.
Quality areas are turning to ELN to improve cycle time and reduce costs of regulatory compliance.
The new edition also includes a special chapter on the application of the Semantic Web to ELN by the University of Southampton, a world renowned institution recognised as the leader in advancing the art of notebook technology.
This exceptional perspective provides a forward-looking insight into the future of ELN and practical, real-life benefits of the semantic web.
With so many ELN suppliers offering a variety of capabilities and features, prospective users can gain the knowledge and insight they need to make an informed vendor selection.
