Roche Diagnostics-Korea Health Industry Development Institute Launch 'New Impact Project' for Open Innovation

Roche Diagnostics Korea announced on the 9th that it will carry out the 'New Impact Project,' a MedTech open innovation program in collaboration with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) to strengthen the competitiveness of the Korean medical device industry, facilitate technical cooperation with domestic related companies, and support global expansion.

Jung Kwang-hoon, Executive Director of Pathology Diagnostics Division at Roche Diagnostics Korea, Bin Jun-gil, CEO of Neurofit, Kit Tang, CEO of Roche Diagnostics Korea, Cha Soon-do, President of Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Hwang Sung-eun, Director of Health Industry Promotion Division, Lee Young-ho, Executive Director of Molecular Diagnostics Division at Roche Diagnostics Korea, and Yoon Moo-hwan, Executive Director of Digital Insight Division at Roche Diagnostics Korea, are taking a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Roche Diagnostics Korea]

This project is part of an open innovation program jointly hosted by Roche Diagnostics Asia-Pacific Headquarters, Roche Diagnostics Korea, and KHIDI. This year, reflecting the increased interest in infectious diseases following the COVID-19 pandemic, a program focusing on the field of infectious disease molecular diagnostics will also be added.

Roche Diagnostics and KHIDI will discover and select domestic companies with innovative technologies in three cooperation areas: ▲digital diagnostics ▲molecular diagnostics ▲digital pathology. They will provide prize money and mentoring support, offer opportunities for technical collaboration, and assist in expanding overseas market entry by leveraging Roche Diagnostics’ global network.

In the digital diagnostics field, the focus will be on companies collaborating on diagnostic tests using digital tools and digital biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s dementia diagnosis. In the molecular diagnostics field, companies with capabilities in developing infectious disease diagnostic portfolios using Roche’s reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) platform and exploring overseas markets will be targeted. In the digital pathology field, opportunities for collaboration will be sought with companies capable of developing algorithmic diagnostic technologies (such as immunohistochemistry slide analysis and companion diagnostic marker analysis) that can be implemented within Roche’s open digital pathology platform.

Kit Tang, CEO of Roche Diagnostics Korea, said, “Innovation is a core growth driver for Roche Diagnostics, and through this program, we will support the growth and innovation of domestic medical device startups and in vitro diagnostic companies.” He added, “Together with KHIDI, we will continue to provide ongoing support to build a healthy ecosystem in the domestic healthcare industry and achieve sustainable mutual growth, while doing our best to fulfill our role as a leading company.”