Today, Chinese government officials, key Elekta radiotherapy customers in China and members of Elekta's senior management inaugurated Elekta's Learning and Innovation Center (LINC) in Beijing. The three-story, 1,800sq m (19,375sq ft) education and training facility is equipped with Elekta radiation therapy systems and classrooms to educate oncology and neuroscience professionals as well as Elekta employees on the use of advanced radiotherapy solutions and workflows.
"Elekta is committed to customer education and training, a priority of all of our users worldwide," says Gilbert Wai, Executive Vice President, Elekta Asia Pacific, who joined Elekta President and CEO, Tomas Puusepp, at the ribbon cutting ceremony. "A center such as the Beijing LINC is urgently needed in Asia Pacific as the region rapidly grows its radiation therapy capacity. It will be of great importance for physicians, physicists, therapists, service engineers, dosimetrists and application specialists in this region."
Elekta opened its first LINC in its North American headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia during the 2013 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in September.
Fully equipped with comprehensive Elekta solutions
Like its North American counterpart, the Beijing LINC is equipped with an impressive array of Elekta solutions. A demonstration room on the ground floor will display several systems, including full-sized Elekta Axesse™ and Elekta Compact™ linear accelerators and accessories, such as Active Breathing Coordinator™ and immobilization devices. It will also comprise brachytherapy solutions, including an afterloader and applicators, and Elekta neuroscience solutions, such as Leksell Stereotactic System®, as well as Elekta software solution suites of Monaco® and a complete MOSAIQ® workflow solution.
"Two basement bunkers are dedicated for training on Elekta Synergy® and Elekta Compact linear accelerators," Wai notes. "Together with a training lab, these systems enable trainees to have a hands-on experience with our equipment. In addition, the LINC's upper floor houses six classrooms for hardware or software training for both Elekta employees and customers."
Besides Elekta product training, the Beijing LINC also will cooperate with local clinical partners and universities to deliver customized and innovative training programs for radiotherapy professionals and students.
The Beijing LINC further strengthens Elekta's commitment in China, including its recent acquisition of 100 percent ownership in its R&D and manufacturing entity, formerly known as EBMEI. The renamed Elekta Beijing Medical Systems Co, Ltd (EBMS) has played an essential part in Elekta's emerging market strategy.