Waterloo, ON – February 18, 2010 - Agfa HealthCare, a leading provider of IT-enabled clinical workflow and diagnostic imaging solutions, today announced construction of a the new global Agfa HealthCare Research & Development facility in the Research and Technology Park at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. At a ground breaking ceremony today, Agfa announced that the building will create jobs for local professionals and help the company deliver on its commitment to bring industry leading technologies to the healthcare community that will improve the quality of patient care in Canada.

“The University of Waterloo is pleased to welcome Agfa HealthCare to the growing roster of partners in the Research and Technology Park, as they are contributing to the economic well-being of Waterloo Region and Canada,” said David Johnston, President of the University of Waterloo. “The park is a striking example of how unconventional collaborations involving academia, industry and government can help create something greater than the sum of its parts. Agfa's new facility will generate opportunities for the area's highly skilled workforce and help drive innovation.”

In 2009, Agfa HealthCare received a grant from the McGuinty government for $29.6 million to support its local research & development operations, create 100 new positions and re-invest in 276 existing jobs. The new research & development centre will create an additional 40 positions and provide Agfa with the additional resources needed to support its next generation of enterprise-wide healthcare solutions.  The facility will also enhance Agfa’s ability to build on industry leading initiatives, such as the Agfa HealthCare Institute.

“By locating a cutting-edge research facility within The University of Waterloo’s Research and Technology Park, Agfa HealthCare reinforces the Waterloo Region’s world-renowned reputation as a source of innovative ideas and highly-skilled talent in today’s knowledge economy,” said Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. “Partnering with business and local research institutions helps grow the Ontario economy and create new jobs.”

Agfa's Waterloo office is the site of the company’s global research & development arm, producing its leading Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), IMPAX™, and other advanced software solutions for hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide.

"As the global hub for Agfa’s research & development operations, we’re very much looking forward to the new opportunities the facility will provide – not only the local community – but the healthcare industry as a whole,” said Michael Green, Vice President North America Region, Agfa HealthCare. “The brilliant talent at the Waterloo R&D centre, the continued support from our local partners and the provincial government has allowed us to accelerate our roadmap for growth and bring progressive healthcare innovations to the next level for Canadians."

“This is great news for Waterloo region – and for Ontario,” said John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener-Centre and Minister of Research and Innovation. “The shovels are in the ground today, and long term, this is an initiative that will support skilled job creation and a higher quality of life for all Ontarians.”

Construction of the new facility by real estate developers, The Cora Group will commence in March 2010 and is scheduled to be complete in March 2011. The state-of-the-art environmentally “smart-green” building is a LEED Gold certification candidate with specialized insulation, advanced building envelope design, advanced automated HVAC and electrical systems and motion activated indirect lighting included as just some of the energy conservation features.

About Agfa

The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading imaging and information technology companies. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare) and film related products and specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials).  Agfa's headquarters are in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries throughout the world. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 3,401 million Euro in 2006.

About Agfa HealthCare

Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading provider of IT-enabled clinical workflow and image management solutions, and state-of-the-art systems for capturing, processing and printing images in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The company has over a century of experience in diagnostic imaging and has been a pioneer on the healthcare IT market since the early 1990’s. Agfa HealthCare today employs 5,700 staff members, with sales offices and representatives in over 100 markets worldwide. Sales for Agfa HealthCare in 2006 were 1,452 million Euro, accounting for 43% of total group sales. For more information on Agfa HealthCare, please visit www.agfa.com/healthcare.

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities, running the world’s largest post-secondary program of co-operative education. At 400-acres, the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park is one of the largest such parks in Canada and one ideally located on the campus of Canada's most innovative university. The park grows and nurtures new technology, generates thousands of high-quality jobs, and contributes to environmental excellence and the well-being of the community.