Agfa HealthCare breaks ground in Waterloo

Waterloo, ON – Diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions provider Agfa HealthCare says it is constructing a new global Agfa HealthCare Research & Development facility in the Research and Technology Park at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario.

“The University of Waterloo is pleased to welcome Agfa HealthCare to the growing roster of partners in the Research and Technology Park, as they are contributing to the economic well-being of Waterloo Region and Canada,” said David Johnston, president of the University of Waterloo. “The park is a striking example of how unconventional collaborations involving academia, industry and government can help create something greater than the sum of its parts. Agfa HealthCare’s new facility will generate opportunities for the area’s highly skilled workforce and help drive innovation.”

In 2009, Agfa HealthCare was awarded a $29.6 million grant from the Ontario government to support its local research & development operations, create 100 new positions and re-invest in 276 existing jobs. The new R&D centre will create an additional 40 positions and provide what Agfa HealthCare says are the additional resources needed to support its next generation of enterprise-wide healthcare solutions. The company says the facility will also enhances its ability to build on industry leading initiatives, such as the Agfa HealthCare Institute.

Agfa HealthCare’s Waterloo office is the site of the company’s global research & development arm, producing its leading Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), IMPAX, and other advanced software solutions for hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide.

“As the global hub for Agfa HealthCare’s research & development, we are very much looking forward to the new opportunities the facility will provide – not only to the local community – but to the healthcare industry as a whole,” said Michael Green, vice president North America region, Agfa HealthCare. “The brilliant talent at the Waterloo R&D centre, the continued support from our local partners and the provincial government has allowed us to accelerate our roadmap for growth and bring progressive healthcare innovations to the next level for Canadians.”

Construction of the new facility by The Cora Group will commence in March 2010 and is scheduled to be complete in March 2011. The state-of-the-art environmentally “smart-green” building is a LEED Gold certification candidate with specialized insulation, advanced building envelope design, advanced automated HVAC and electrical systems and motion activated indirect lighting included as just some of the energy conservation features.