Health care systems face major financial challenges now and in the long term. This confirms our intention to gear our research and development activities toward developing innovative products that not only meet high quality standards, but are also affordable. As an operator of proprietary dialysis clinics and a provider of products for treating patients at home, we know that these are by no means incompatible aims.
Our research and development strategy is globally oriented, enabling us to respond even better to the worldwide rise in demand for high-quality yet cost-efficient treatment methods. In doing so, we also take regional market conditions into account and offer a differentiated product range.
In the future, we intend to deliver innovative, competitive products even more efficiently and strengthen our focus on developing countries. In addition to research and development activities within our Company, we collaborate with external partners with the aim of building a comprehensive innovation and technology network. These partners include numerous academic institutions, such as research institutes at prestigious universities in the U.S. Another partner is the Renal Research Institute (RRI) in New York. This subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care North America is a renowned institution in the field of clinical research into all aspects of chronic kidney failure. Together, we are working on fundamental issues relating to dialysis treatment. We are also increasingly collaborating with start-ups with the objective of promoting an open culture of innovation and enabling access to the latest technologies.
