Olympus Corp. announced plans to develop a research and development center in Hyderabad, India, positioning it as a strategic hub for developing medical equipment for emerging markets. This facility will complement the company’s existing R&D centers in Japan, the U.S., and Germany.
The Japanese medical equipment giant aims to leverage India’s vast pool of engineering talent while expanding its footprint in the country, where demand for cancer screening and treatment equipment is expected to rise. Olympus, the world’s largest manufacturer of endoscopes, has seen its Indian sales grow by 30% annually over the past three years, contributing $89 million to its total sales of over $6 billion.
Initially, the Hyderabad center will develop simpler products like suction and flushing pumps and conventional endoscopes. Although there are no immediate plans for local manufacturing, Olympus acknowledges the potential efficiency benefits of combining development and production at the same site.
In a related move, Olympus will strengthen its collaboration with Indian IT firm HCLTech to enhance cybersecurity and streamline regulatory documentation for its products. This partnership is part of Olympus’s broader strategy to address compliance issues highlighted by recent FDA warning letters.
The new center underscores Olympus’s commitment to innovation and its strategic focus on emerging markets, positioning the company for continued growth in the dynamic Indian healthcare sector.
