avateramedical Acquires Robotics Specialist FORWARDttc

Jena, Hanover, Germany, August 14, 2020 - avateramedical GmbH, an innovative German medical technology company, announced today the acquisition of FORWARDttc GmbH, an automation technology company with special focus on robotics hard- and software. The transaction was closed on July 30, 2020. Following successful integration, FORWARDttc will operate within the Group as avateramedical Digital Solutions, alongside the previously acquired avateramedical Mechatronics in Ilmenau, Germany. In the future, the new unit will be dedicated entirely to internal projects of the avateramedical Group. Financial details will not be disclosed.

FORWARDttc GmbH was spun off from the Institute of Mechatronic Systems, Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany in 2012, offering a wide range of services in software for robotics, kinematics, visualization and mixed reality, as well as safety and machine learning. The Company was founded by three experienced engineers with backgrounds in mechatronics, robotic systems and software across academia and industry. The founders have already successfully completed several medical robotics projects and are leading a team of 13 full-time employees. Co-founders Prof. Tobias Ortmaier and Matthias Dagen will serve as Managing Directors of avateramedical Digital Solutions; Dr. Jens Kotlarski will be responsible for the innovation management for all software-related topics. avateramedical Digital Solutions will operate from Hanover, Germany, to retain its close ties to Leibniz University.

"Our agreement to acquire FORWARDttc represents another milestone in avateramedical's strategy to expand opportunities for future growth and shortened innovation cycles by building up valuable resources," commented Oliver Kupka, CEO of the avateramedical Group. "We are excited for the FORWARDttc team to join avateramedical. This is a unique opportunity to integrate a close-knit team of highly trained specialists, who will provide a permanent and scalable in-house software solution to create substantial and lasting value for avateramedical's customers, our employees, and our shareholders. FORWARDttc's deep understanding of complex areas such as automation technologies, software and mechatronics perfectly complements avateramedical's outstanding expertise in robot-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. This substantiates our innovative strength on the threshold to market entry of the avatera^(R) system."

"The entire team at FORWARDttc is thrilled to join forces with avateramedical," added Prof. Tobias Ortmaier, co-founder of FORWARDttc and Managing Director of avateramedical Digital Solutions. "Our focus on user experience, image processing, cloud computing, virtual reality and AI provides a complementary skillset to avateramedical. Addressing the future software needs, we can support the further development of avatera^(R) and contribute to the realization of our ambitious goals. This opens up great opportunities for us to develop further in a cutting-edge technology segment."

Matthias Dagen, co-founder of FORWARDttc and Managing Director of avateramedical Digital Solutions, added: "Our down-to-earth, entrepreneurial culture and enthusiasm for new challenges are a great fit to avateramedical's DNA and we are looking forward to further developing 'The German Robot'. As engineers, we know the technical side of robotics - and as human beings we are excited about how the well-thought-out use of mechatronic systems can positively shape our future."

avateramedical is preparing for the introduction of the avatera^(R) system^{for robot-assisted, minimally invasive surgery, which has successfully completed the CE conformity assessment procedure, into everyday clinical practice in Europe and for a broad market launch.}

About Prof. Tobias Ortmaier

Tobias Ortmaier has been active in the field of medical robotics for more than 20 years. Amongst others, he held positions at German Aerospace Center e.V., KUKA Roboter GmbH, and Leibniz University Hanover where he is leading a group of more than 25 research assistants. His passion is to translate fundamental research to practical applications. He is also a co-founder of the cobot company Yuanda Robotics GmbH.

About Matthias Dagen

Matthias Dagen obtained his Dipl.-Ing. in mechanical engineering in 2006. Thereafter, he joined the Institute of Mechatronic Systems at Leibniz University and became senior chief engineer and group leader in 2008. Besides founding FORWARDttc GmbH, he is also a co-founder of Yuanda Robotics GmbH where he was part of the management team and responsible for control engineering and safety.

About avatera^(R)

avatera^(R) is the first German system for robot-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. Tailored precisely to the needs of future users, "The German Robot" enables precise keyhole surgery (so-called laparoscopy) with the highest level of safety for patients and maximum comfort for surgeons and surgical teams. Thanks to avatera's stringent single-use concept, surgeons always work with new, reliable instruments without the risk of cross-contamination and cost-intensive sterilization processes. The use of German servers and the application of German and European data protection standards ensure maximum security for the protection of all sensitive data of clinics and patients. A certified quality management system and the CE mark document the complete conformity of avatera with all legal and formal requirements and confirm the high standards avateramedical applies to the safety and efficiency of the system.

avateramedical GmbH is an innovative German medical technology company in the field of robot-assisted surgery at the high tech sites in Jena, Ilmenau and Hanover. The privately financed company was founded in 2011 by Prof. Dr. med. Jens-Uwe Stolzenburg and Dr. Hubertus von Gruenberg and financed by Lars Windhorst to combine the expertise of leading European surgeons, German top managers and excellent German engineers and software developers. avateramedical, with its current workforce of around 200 employees, aims to combine state-of-the-art medical technology with economic efficiency, quality, comfort and reliability. avateramedical GmbH is a subsidiary of avateramedical N.V.

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