Siemens Healthineers teams up with IISc, Narayana Health to advance healthcare innovation

German medical device company Siemens Healthineers has announced its partnerships with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd (HCG), and Narayana Health hospital network, to bring advanced technology innovation at its innovation centre in Bengaluru.

“India is a strategic market for Siemens Healthineers and it plays an important role in global innovation and technology expansion to achieve the future of healthcare," Peter Schardt, Chief Technology Officer, Siemens Healthineers, said at a recent media briefing on Friday.

The collaboration with IISc, aims to drive research and co-creation of technologies that improve imaging, and address access to care. Likewise, Narayana Health’s partnership with Siemens Healthineers will focus on advancing cardiovascular care and digital transformation in healthcare by building on the capabilities from both organisations. And the extended partnership with HCG will drive research and development in cancer care, as well as developing fellowship programs to advance research and academics in the oncology space, the company said.

"The partnerships will build on our focus towards fighting the most threatening diseases, enabling efficient operations, and expanding access to patient care. Through these collaborations, we strive to make healthcare even more efficient, sustainable, and humane for everyone across the country,” Schardt said.

These partnerships may be extended after three years, and will be instrumental in making India an innovation centre for Siemens Healthineers globally, said Schardt adding that most of the tech innovation work will focus on developing healthcare solutions including, access to care, digital enabled services, cardio-vascular care and cancer care. "The company is also working with a number of healthcare startups to advance Healthtech innovation," he said.

Acknowledging the importance of hiring talent for these hi-tech projects, Schardt further said that the company is looking to recruit specialists in digital technologies such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality, robotics and cybersecurity.

In 2020, the company announced an investment of ₹1,300 crore over the next five years in its Bengaluru centre to make India one of its four key digital innovation hubs in the world, the with other hubs located in the United States, Germany, and China. The new facility will combine a 70,000 square metre of office space for its R&D centre and a 5,000 square meters “ultra-modern” medical imaging factory and will employ over 1,800 digital tech experts by 2025, the company said.