WS Audiology to open first Asia audiological research centre in Singapore by 2026

The centre is expected to create high-skilled job roles such as research scientists, audiologists, acoustic engineers, and systems engineers.

WS Audiology (WSA), a global hearing aid provider, announced on Tuesday (18 June 2024) that it will be opening an audiological research laboratory in Singapore.

Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Office of Research in Clinical Amplification (ORCA) Asia will be dedicated to conducting audiological research for the Asian population.

Located in WSA’s regional headquarters in Tai Seng, Singapore, ORCA Asia is said to be the first auditory research centre in Asia, and will focus on tackling important regional issues such as improving hearing aid technology for Asian languages. According to research cited in the announcement, "400mn people live with hearing loss in Southeast Asia alone. By 2050, one in four people will be over the age of 60, indicative of an aging population likely to increase the need for hearing care."

WSA thus aims to play a pivotal role in providing innovative solutions to address this crucial area of concern, through the development of the new centre.

Joerg Brandscheid, Chief Technology Officer, WSA, shared in a press release: "We recognise the varying linguistic and demographic profiles across the region, and ORCA Asia will allow us to uncover information crucial for improving the experience of those impacted by hearing loss.

"Given the diversity of this region, ORCA Asia will look into research that will better understand the needs of the Asian population to deliver specific, novel solutions to ensure that individuals with hearing loss can enjoy the same opportunities and quality of life as those without."

The centre is expected to create high-skilled job roles such as research scientists, audiologists, acoustic engineers, and systems engineers.

Goh Wan Yee, Senior Vice President and Head for Healthcare, EDB, said the Board welcomed WSA’s decision to set up ORCA Asia, "which builds upon its long-standing presence in Singapore as a hub for R&D, operations, manufacturing, and commercial activities."

She added: "This investment affirms Singapore’s position as a trusted location with multidisciplinary talent for global MedTech companies to innovate and serve the growing healthcare needs in Asia, and will bring new capabilities and job opportunities to Singapore."

ORCA Asia will be WSA’s third audiological research laboratory, with the first being ORCA US which was established in Chicago, US in 2001; and the second being ORCA Europe, with was set up in Stockholm, Sweden in 2007.

In Singapore, WSA currently houses an R&D team comprising 200 members, leading the company's global product innovation efforts to serve the APAC market.

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Photo / WSA