Bengaluru, NFAPost: To advance the digitalization of healthcare and better serve the needs of emerging markets, Siemens Healthineers today announced plans to invest Rs 1,300 crore (EUR 160 million) over the next five years in an innovation hub in Bengaluru, India.
The innovation hub will be housed in a new state-of-the-art campus that combines the existing R&D center and an ultra-modern medical imaging factory. To expand its digital capabilities, the company plans to add up to 1,800 digital talents in the next ten years. The investment is part of Siemens Healthineers’ strategy 2025, in which India plays an important role as a growth market for the company.
Commenting on the investment, Elisabeth Staudinger, President Asia Pacific, Siemens Healthineers said the investment is the largest the company has ever made in India.
Innovation hub
“It will play a key role in taking our business to the next level by driving digitalisation and expanding our portfolio for emerging markets. The innovation hub in Bengaluru will demonstrate our commitment to advance healthcare through cutting-edge digital technologies as well as through accessible and affordable innovations driven from India,” Elisabeth Staudinger, President Asia Pacific, Siemens Healthineers.
The Bengaluru campus will be one of four innovation hubs of the company, with other hubs located in the United States, Germany, and China. The innovation hub at Bengaluru will include centers of competence in digital technologies such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality, user experience, and cybersecurity.
Explaining the Siemens Healthineers innovation hub concept, Siemens Healthineers Chief Technology Officer Peter Schardt pointed out that the innovation hub in Bengaluru is an integral part of the company global network of innovation that will further accelerate its ability to develop effective solutions quickly and with a strong focus on emerging markets, especially in Asia.
Digitalisation of healthcare
“The Bengaluru innovation hub will assume increased responsibility for customer centric solutions to serve such markets even better. Special focus is on solutions for the digitalization of healthcare, which is the foundation for value-based and patient-centered medicine within the region and across the globe,” said Siemens Healthineers Chief Technology Officer Peter Schardt.
So far, Siemens Healthineers has already invested about INR 2,500 crore (EUR 300 million) in R&D in the country. With about 50 percent of all the software engineers in Siemens Healthineers, the existing R&D center at Bengaluru plays a strategic role in developing cutting-edge software products and platforms for all three segments of the company – Imaging, Diagnostics, and Advanced Therapies. Only a few months ago, Siemens Healthineers was recognized as one of the top 5 of India’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare 2020 and certified as a Great Place to Work by the globally active research and consulting institute Great Place to Work®.
Siemens Healthcare Pvt. Ltd Senior Vice President Development Center and Managing Director Gerd Hoefner said Bengaluru is an ideal location for an innovation hub because of its strong innovation and healthcare ecosystems, coupled with reputed educational institutions.
New-age technology
“The city offers a large talent pool who embrace digital with an open mindset and readily adapts to new ways of working with new-age technology competences,” said Siemens Healthcare Pvt. Ltd Senior Vice President Development Center and Managing Director Gerd Hoefner.
The investment aims to make India a manufacturing center for the company’s emerging market products. Today, the Bengaluru factory is successfully manufacturing Cios Fit C-arms and Somatom.go CT scanners. These entry-level systems are designed, developed, and made in India and are sold in South-East Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America. Siemens Healthineers plans to expand its product portfolio to address the challenge of affordability that is specific to these markets.
Siemens Healthineers India Zone Executive Vice President Vivek Kanade stated closely integrating product development and clinical value creation at the new Bengaluru campus will significantly increase the company’s ability to add more value to its customers.
“Innovative solutions and adaption of digitalization would address current challenges and future needs of the Indian Healthcare industry,” said Siemens Healthineers India Zone Executive Vice President Vivek Kanade.
When completed in 2025, the first phase of the new campus will include 70,000 square meters of office space for the enlarged R&D center and 5,000 square meters of factory space. To create a modern work environment for the employees and to meet the highest standards in sustainability and energy efficiency, an international architectural competition is planned to bring creativity into the design of the new campus
