Elekta, a human care company, has opened its Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC) in Beijing. Chinese government officials, key Elekta radiotherapy customers in China and members of Elekta’s senior management inaugurated the Centre. The Centre is a three-storey facility, 1,800sq m (19,375sq ft) equipped with Elekta radiation therapy systems.

This Centre aims to educate and train oncology and neuroscience professionals as well as Elekta employees on the use of advanced radiotherapy solutions and workflows.

“Elekta is committed to customer education and training, a priority of all of our users worldwide,” says Gilbert Wai, executive vice president, Elekta Asia Pacific, who joined Elekta president and CEO, Tomas Puusepp, at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “A centre such as the Beijing LINC is urgently needed in Asia Pacific as the region rapidly grows its radiation therapy capacity. It will be of great importance for physicians, physicists, therapists, service engineers, dosimetrists and application specialists in this region.”

Elekta opened its first LINC in its North American headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia during the 2013 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in September.

Like its North American counterpart, the Beijing LINC is equipped with an impressive array of Elekta solutions. A demonstration room on the ground floor will display several systems, including full-sized Elekta Axesse and Elekta Compact linear accelerators and accessories, such as Active Breathing Coordinator and immobilization devices. It will also comprise brachytherapy solutions, including an afterloader and applicators, and Elekta neuroscience solutions, such as Leksell Stereotactic System, as well as Elekta software solution suites of Monaco and a complete MOSAIQ workflow solution.

“Two basement bunkers are dedicated for training on Elekta Synergy and Elekta Compact linear accelerators,” Wai notes. “Together with a training lab, these systems enable trainees to have a hands-on experience with our equipment. In addition, the LINC’s upper floor houses six classrooms for hardware or software training for both Elekta employees and customers.”

Besides Elekta product training, the Beijing LINC also will cooperate with local clinical partners and universities to deliver customized and innovative training programs for radiotherapy professionals and students.

The Beijing LINC further strengthens Elekta’s commitment in China, including its recent acquisition of 100 percent ownership in its R&D and manufacturing entity, formerly known as EBMEI. The renamed Elekta Beijing Medical Systems Co, Ltd (EBMS) has played an essential part in Elekta’s emerging market strategy.

Elekta is pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.