Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness 
Thu, September 15, 2011
SHANGHAI--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the creation of its flagship research and development (R&D) center for China, which will be based in Shanghai.
"We are very proud of our long-standing partnership with Covidien, which has also chosen our park as the location for both its regional training center for healthcare professionals and its commercial operations."
The center, which will be fully functional by July 2012, will house two of Covidiena™s emerging market R&D organizations:
- Tailored Products a" will identify and develop products that are customized to meet the needs of China and other countries in the emerging markets
- Breakthrough Platforms a" will utilize the unique skill sets and expertise of employees in Asia to create and develop new medical device technologies.
aThe establishment of this R&D facility is a first for Covidien in China,a said Dr. Dong Wu, Vice President, China R&D, Covidien. aWe will be undertaking a range of cutting-edge activities that will create innovative products to help physicians improve the health of the people of China and of other markets worldwide.a
The 25-member R&D staff that Covidien currently employs in Shanghai will increase to more than 300 once the new 100,000-square-foot facility is completed.
aAt the core of our R&D facility will be our Laboratory and Operating Theatre Simulation Suites that will enable healthcare professionals to visit the center and be involved in the actual design and development process of future medical devices,a Dr. Wu added. aThis collaborative approach will help us create products that are best suited to the needs of doctors in China and in other countries in Asia and, therefore, will be more likely to produce better patient outcomes.a
To mark the establishment of the R&D facility, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Covidien and the Shanghai Caohejing Hi-Tech Park(aCHJa,a'aa'a).
aWe are very pleased Covidien has chosen Shanghai and CHJ to be the base of the Companya™s inaugural R&D Center in China,a said Mr. Enliang Gui, Vice President of Caohejing Hi-Tech Park and Chairman of Pujiang company. aWe are very proud of our long-standing partnership with Covidien, which has also chosen our park as the location for both its regional training center for healthcare professionals and its commercial operations.a
Mr. Alex Gu, Vice President and General Manager, Covidien China, said, aThis R&D Center is the latest in a series of China-focused initiatives that clearly demonstrates our commitment to this very important market for Covidien. We look forward to a very successful future here.a
ABOUT COVIDIEN
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2010 revenue of $10.4 billion, Covidien has 41,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit [ www.covidien.com ] to learn more about our business.