University of Tartu signed cooperation agreement with subsidiary of Karl Storz, Europe’s largest producer of surgical equipment

On Monday, 24 March, a producer of medical endoscopes, OÜ Karl Storz Video Endoscopy Estonia, and the University of Tartu signed a cooperation agreement. The parties plan to increase cooperation in research and development, curriculum development as well as industry doctorate.

“The cooperation is special because a high-tech company draws on the expertise of top researchers of many disciplines of the university. This is a good example of how a well-established company can continuously develop its products with the support of researchers and gain a competitive advantage,” said Mihkel Tammo, Head of Entrepreneurship at the University of Tartu.

The company, which manufactures flexible endoscopes in Estonia, has a long-standing research and development cooperation with the University of Tartu, employs the university’s alumni and offers traineeship positions for its students. For example, several doctoral graduates of the Institute of Physics have joined the company. Also, in the university’s project “Computational imaging and processing in high resolution” (CIPHR), researchers are developing a solution which uses computational methods to make the image from the video endoscope camera much sharper than it is now. There are also opportunities for collaboration with the Institute of Computer Science and the Institute of Technology.

According to Tõnis Pilvisto, General Manager of OÜ Karl Storz Video Endoscopy Estonia, the company is proud of being able to cooperate with the University of Tartu. “Joint projects and specialist consultancy help us to apply the UT's research and meet the needs of the Estonian business environment. Collaboration in the field of degree studies and continuing education allows us to prepare staff with master's and doctoral degrees who meet the specific needs and requirements of our business,” said Pilvisto.

The cooperation agreement covers research and development, the offer of traineeship positions, the development of degree studies at the university, continuing education courses for the company’s staff and the creation of industry doctorate positions.

OÜ Karl Storz Video Endoscopy Estonia is a company that started in Estonia in 1994, developing and manufacturing flexible medical endoscopes. Located in Laagri, Harju County, the company with 300 employees is part of the Karl Storz Group, Europe's largest manufacturer of high-tech surgical equipment. Estonia’s experience in the production of endoscopes and the local dedicated staff are the reasons why the world-renowned group applies the latest technological advances in series production in its Estonian subsidiary.