Olympus to build medical training center

Olympus, the Japanese maker of medical and surgical solutions, said Tuesday it will build a new medical training center in Songdo, Incheon, due for completion in February 2017.

The Olympus Korea Training and Education Center aims to offer diverse training programs for health care professionals on the safe and effective use of the company’s innovative medical and surgical products, including its market No. 1 endoscopy equipment.

With a budget of 36.3 billion won ($33.2 million), the new center is the sixth of its kind globally and the second-largest in terms of size.

On Tuesday, Olympus Korea signed an agreement with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority for what would become the largest amount of investment made by an overseas medical equipment company in Korea.

The four-story building will be located on a 5,0000-square-meter site within an industrial complex in Songdo, which is also home to a slew of local bio companies such as Samsung Biologics and Celtrion.

“We have long partnered with health care professionals in developing our innovative products. With the new center, we hope to further contribute to Korea’s medical and economic development,” said Olympus Korea CEO and president Naoki Okada.

Park Sae-yul, vice president of surgical business division of Olympus Asia-Pacific, also predicted the center would serve as a regional hub as it will attract medical staff from neighboring countries.

“Korea itself may not be a big market for Olympus, but its medical techniques have been recognized internationally,” he said. “Health care professionals from the Asia-Pacific region will visit the center to learn.”

The center, consisting of laboratories, an auditorium, a showroom for new products and an after-sales center, are expected to create some 70 new jobs and attract more than 10,000 visitors annually.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)