GE may invest in Romania via $250mln equity fund

The US-based technology and services conglomerate has launched the GE Healthymagination, a new equity fund that will make $250mln investment in healthcare technology companies, including Romanian companies. "The healthcare industry needs state-of-the-art solutions and we have to create technologies that would help both doctors and hospitals in delivering medical services to a higher number of patients, at lower costs and at a higher quality. GE is capable of providing assistance to healthcare technology companies around the world, including in Romania", said Radu Gorduza-Lupu , strategic manager at General Electric Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania.

The assistance includes funding for research and development, as well as expertise in investment. "The fund provides entrepreneurs the opportunity of working with a global leader in healthcare technology in common interest sectors. It is vital to support healthcare companies developing innovative business models and services, that once aligned to our strategies have the potential of shaping a new age of patient care", GE said in a press release.

The fund will target three broad areas for investment: broad-based diagnostics, including imaging, patient monitoring, molecular diagnostics, pathology, novel imaging agents; healthcare information technology, including electronic medical records, clinical information systems, healthcare information exchanges and life sciences, including tools for research and development in biopharmaceuticals and stem cells, and technologies for manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.

GE Healthcare, industrial research division of General Electric, world leader in healthcare equipment and services, that operates in Romania. GE Healthcare Romania was established in 2000, and its shareholders are: General Electric International Benelux BV, Netherlands and General Electric Holdings Luxembourg & Co. GE Healthcare employs over 46,000 around the world in over 100 countries.