Research & Development in Asia Some medical device companies now are doing some of their own

Research & Development in Asia

Some medical device companies now are doing some of their own research and development (R&D) in Asia. The all-in cost of chemists, engineers and biologists can be a fraction of the cost in the West. Intellectual property also is improving in Asia, albeit at a slower pace than Western corporations would like. As more Asians study science and engineering in the West and return to their home country for good employment opportunities, they also will improve R&D throughout Asia. Local Asian device companies with improved R&D and technical skills (particularly from such Asian returnees) will develop new companies and more sophisticated medical products. Such local Asian device companies then will be able to further compete with Western device companies in the Asian markets.

Foreign device companies that sell only “Grade A”devices will need to set up production of “Grade B” devices or basic models without all the bells and whistles to compete in many Asian markets. With local Asian device manufacturing improving quality and making devices at a lower cost, foreign and local device products will compete for Grade B devices in the developing Asian countries.