Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the opening of its first research and development (R&D) centre in India. The Covidien India Engineering Centre (CIEC) is a 40,000 square-foot facility located in DLF Cybercity Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Hyderabad. It plans to expand its facility based in the SEZ, which is currently under construction further in the near future.

In the last five years, Covidien had more than doubled its R&D investments and launched more than 100 new products. Over the next few years, the Company plans to invest five to six per cent of its sales to R&D activities. The CIEC will provide state-of-the-art engineering services to Covidien’s R&D organisation in the areas of design, hardware, software and testing, while developing a footprint for future product development.

The CIEC provides a range of engineering services for the company’s medical products business and eventually plans to employ upto 350 staff in the future. Randel Frazier, vice president R&D, emerging markets, said, “Innovation is at the heart of everything Covidien does. As a company we devote significant resources to invent and develop technology that physicians utilise to improve patient outcomes. Our company is expanding our R&D capabilities worldwide and this new facility in India is playing an integral role in our global strategy.”

Robert Frechette, vice president, Engineering Services, Covidien said, “India has a strong base of highly-talented engineers and bringing this talent into Covidien’s organisation is critical for our continued growth. By establishing our presence in Hyderabad, we are expanding Covidien’s R&D capabilities as well as enhancing the city’s reputation as a hub for life sciences.”

Further he added that their new facility is up and running with more than 30 engineers and staff involved in Covidien’s global R&D efforts.

Covidien has an important and growing commercial presence in India with offices based in Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Chennai. The company has nearly 200 employees in its commercial organisation with a strong network of distributors across the country.

According to Arjun Sarker, managing director, Indian Subcontinent, Covidien, “With a fast-growing economy, the demand for healthcare in India is growing at a rapid pace. Thus the establishment of this R&D facility will help expand Covidien’s presence and commitment to India.”