Under its Excellent Global Corporation Plan—a five-year initiative launched this year—Canon intends to cultivate its health-care business as a pillar of the corporation’s next-generation growth. Following its agreement with Toshiba, particularly, the company intends to accelerate its business push into the medical equipment field.

Canon’s new subsidiary TMSC markets a wide range of products, and is a leader in X-ray computed tomography (CT) systems, including diagnostic X-ray systems, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, diagnostic ultrasound systems and diagnostic nuclear medicine systems. It also offers advanced medical imaging solutions and in-vitro diagnostics for individualized applications.

Canon’s proprietary technology includes high-speed dynamic X-ray imaging sensor technology and other imaging devices, associated elemental technologies, photoacoustic tomography technology (selected for Japan’s national program called ImPACT, standing for “impulsing paradigm change through disruptive technologies”), medical robotic system technologies, and minimally invasive technologies.

Leveraging the production technologies and R&D capabilities of both companies, the Canon Group will promote joint technological development, thereby positioning itself to provide innovative new products and services in the future.