Covidien opens R&D facility in Shanghai

SHANGHAI – Covidien has recently announced the official opening of its China Technology Center (CTC) Research and Development (R&D) facility in Shanghai.

“Establishing this R&D facility in Shanghai reinforces Covidien’s continued commitment to providing innovative new products that will help healthcare providers worldwide improve patient care and extend healthcare delivery to more people and more places,” said José E. Almeida, chairman, president and CEO of Covidien. “China is a key market in our global strategy, and this investment is a reflection of our strategic initiatives.”

The CTC has a total investment of US$45 million over a three year period, and will eventually employ over 300 workers. The facility spans more than 100,000 square-feet and houses 17 laboratories with state-of-the-art surgical and simulation suites. The new facility complements Covidien’s other operations in China, which include 10 commercial offices, a manufacturing center and training facilities for healthcare professionals.

The CTC has two core focus areas: Design of Tailored Products, which will identify and develop products customized to meet the needs of China and other emerging markets, and Discovery of Breakthrough Platforms in medical technology for creation and development of new medical device technologies.

“By collaborating closely with local medical experts who use our products, we can tailor devices to meet the demands of China and other Emerging Markets,” said Dong Wu, vice president, China R&D, Covidien. “We are dedicated to improving patient outcomes, and we recognize the immense potential of basing an R&D facility in Shanghai. This location will help us tap into internationally renowned experts based here in China, including world-class engineering talent. We believe this collaboration will drive innovation in China and across the Emerging Markets healthcare landscape.”