Medtronic, a medical technology company, has announced that it is opening an Innovation center in Shanghai, China.

Medtronic focuses on technology dealing with chronic diseases such as diabetes.

“Globalization is a key strategy and driver of growth for Medtronic,” said Omar Ishrak, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. “We have already accelerated our efforts to expand in emerging markets, including China, through additional investments in people and infrastructure, and the Shanghai Innovation Center is an example of our work to transform ourselves into a truly global organization.”  

The Innovation Center is the Minneapolis-based company's first such center outside of the United States and Europe. The facility will allow the company to work with both industry leaders and university researchers, as well as doctors to develop innovative products.

“It allows us a unique opportunity to leverage local talent and expertise to increase our growth in China and link it to our larger global capabilities," Ishrak said.

“The Shanghai Innovation Center is another symbol of Medtronic's long term commitment to China, and it is a milestone in Medtronic's development in China," said Simon Li, vice president and president of Medtronic Greater China.

China is the fastest-growing country in the region. The company will train over 1000 skilled employees over the next five years.

The news isn't completely rosy for Medtronic back home, though. A Los Angeles superior court judge is letting a lawsuit from a woman injured by one of the company's INFUSE bone grafts in her neck to go forward. The issue of the suit is “off-label” use of the grafts.

The product is intended for use in the lower lumbar area, but Medtronic has allegedly marketed the use of the INFUSE bone graft for use in the neck, with the company allegedly training doctors to do the procedure and paying them to write articles in medical journals about off-label use of the grafts.

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