The new alliance between Sony and Olympus, recently hit by financial scandals, will focus on the development of endoscopes and other surgical instruments equipped with technologies for three-dimensional imaging and extremely clear "4K" displays.
Il Sony president Kazuo Hirai, said he did not know exactly when the products resulting from this alliance will be available on the market. He recalled that medical devices require special approvals from governments and admitted that this will be a long-term project for Sony whose expertise is in gadgets and films. “It's a challenge in a new industry for us,” said Hirai.
Sony's empire includes consumer electronics, movies, music and games. This new alliance will cost Sony 50 billion yen in investments that will make it the largest shareholder of Olympus with an 11 percent stake. The share is set to grow to 20% by 2020, when the industry will be worth 330 billion yen.
A cash injection needed by Olympus which is still recovering from a frightening financial scandal. Last week the company and three of its former executives pleaded guilty in a false accounting trial designed to hide the company's large losses.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/AJ201210020013
