A partnership between the world’s leading endoscopy company and a Korean artificial intelligence firm is drawing attention as the two move to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered endoscopy infrastructure.

Industry observers are watching closely to see what kind of synergy will emerge from the partnership between Olympus Korea and Ainex, which aims to expand the use of AI-assisted endoscopy in Korea.

Olympus and Ainex have joined forces to promote the adoption of AI endoscopy solutions.

According to the medical industry on the 7th, Olympus Korea and Ainex Corporation have signed a strategic agreement to expand the deployment of AI-based endoscopic analysis solutions.

Ainex is a specialized medical AI company that has developed AI software for both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, steadily expanding its business on the back of its proven technological capabilities.

Recently, Ainex’s flagship product ENAD received Class III medical device approval from Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) as an AI-assisted diagnostic solution covering both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, further validating its technology.

In addition, in September last year, ENAD CADx, an AI-based lesion diagnostic support software, passed the MFDS’s integrated review for Innovative Medical Devices, enabling full reimbursement under Korea’s healthcare system.

Against this backdrop, Olympus Korea pursued the partnership to more effectively supply ENAD to the Korean market.

Through the collaboration, Olympus Korea plans to work closely with Ainex across a wide range of areas, including domestic sales, marketing, and educational activities related to ENAD.

The two companies also intend to maintain a close, ongoing collaboration to optimize ENAD for integration with Olympus endoscopy systems.

Specifically, the agreement covers joint efforts in domestic sales, promotion, and marketing of ENAD, as well as the operation of product demonstrations and user training programs, including workshops for healthcare professionals.

The partners also agreed to cooperate on market expansion strategies and information sharing, while jointly supporting promotional activities such as academic conferences, exhibitions, and symposia, establishing a broad-based business collaboration.

Takashi Tamai, President of Olympus Korea, said, “This MOU marks an important starting point for ENAD to be more widely adopted in the Korean healthcare environment. When Ainex’s technology is combined with Olympus Korea’s established business network and educational infrastructure, we expect significant synergy in improving both the efficiency and accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis.”

David Lee, CEO of Ainex, commented, “We are very pleased to partner with Olympus Korea, a global leader in the endoscopy field. This partnership will serve as a key opportunity to bring ENAD’s technology to a broader range of clinical settings. By leveraging the combined expertise of both companies, we aim to demonstrate the value of AI in real clinical practice and drive qualitative improvements in endoscopic diagnostics.”