A Shaking Incubator is a laboratory instrument that combines the features of an incubator and a shaker to support the growth and development of microorganisms, cell cultures, and biochemical reactions that require constant temperature and orbital agitation. This dual functionality makes it an essential device in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmaceutical, and environmental laboratories.

The primary function of a shaking incubator is to maintain a controlled environment (temperature, humidity, and CO₂ if needed) while continuously agitating liquid cultures. The agitation or orbital shaking motion ensures uniform mixing of nutrients and oxygen throughout the culture medium, promoting optimal cell growth and metabolic activity. This is particularly important for aerobic organisms that require oxygen for survival and growth.

Modern shaking incubators come equipped with digital controls, allowing precise programming of temperature, shaking speed, and timing. The platform may support different sizes and types of flasks, tubes, or bottles using adjustable clamps or holders. Some advanced models also offer refrigeration capabilities for low-temperature incubations and programmable cycles for complex experimental protocols.

Shaking incubators are widely used for applications such as bacterial and yeast culture, protein expression studies, enzyme assays, DNA/RNA extraction, and fermentation research. Their ability to maintain stable environmental conditions over extended periods makes them indispensable for reproducible scientific experiments.