Heidelberg Engineering launches new innovation hub, continues industry partnerships

Sebastian Rausch, PhD, clinical development manager for Investigational Technologies; and Roland Rocholz, PhD, technology and innovation manager. Image credit: Heidelberg Engineering

Heidelberg Engineering has announced the launch of ZinserLab, an innovation hub that will focus on accelerating the development of imaging technologies in eye care.¹ The hub is named in honor of the company’s late cofounder Gerhard Zinser, PhD, according to a news release.

“Gerhard Zinser was instrumental in building Heidelberg Engineering’s reputation for precision, excellence, and purpose. As a physicist and entrepreneur, he combined scientific rigor with clinical insight to bring transformative imaging solutions to ophthalmology. Now, also as part of the EssilorLuxottica Group, Heidelberg Engineering continues this legacy with the creation of the ZinserLab – a clear expression of our enduring commitment to innovation,” said Arianna Schoess Vargas and Kfir Azoulay, managing directors of Heidelberg Engineering, in the release.

“It is designed to facilitate the transition from pioneering research to scientifically validated solutions – addressing real-world needs in ophthalmic imaging and ultimately providing clinical value. Like Gerhard, we strive to speak with researchers, clinicians, and R&D teams at eye level and drive technological innovation in eye care. His spirit is exactly what we aim to carry forward”, said Sebastian Rausch, PhD, clinical development manager for Investigational Technologies; and Roland Rocholz, PhD, technology and innovation manager; in the release. The 2 are the recently appointed coleaders of the ZinserLab.

In other collaborative efforts, Heidelberg and Orbis have entered a partnership with the goal to improve eye health services in underserved areas. The partnership builds on the companies’ collaboration from 2024, and will fund teaching opportunities for eye care professionals and support global training efforts through Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform Cybersight. Last year’s partnership launched 4 live webinars, with 4 more virtual training sessions to be held throughout 2025.²

“At Orbis, we believe that everyone, no matter where they live, deserves access to quality eye care,” Hunter Cherwek, vice president of Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis International, said in a news release.² “Our partnership with Heidelberg Engineering is instrumental as it allows us to collaborate on sharing information about cutting-edge technology and expertise with eye care professionals around the world including in communities with limited resources. Together, we are not only improving skills, but also working to save sight and transform futures.”

In 2024, sessions focused on optical coherence tomography and its ability to enhance the diagnosis, management, and treatment of ophthalmic conditions and were joined over 2000 times by eye care professionals.² Some of those attendees logged on from areas of the globe that experience challenging environments to access learning and mentorship services, including Afghanistan, Somalia, and Ukraine, according to the release.

The first webinar of 2025 was held on June 9 and discussed novel diagnostic tools for optic neuropathies and glaucoma. More information on upcoming webinars will be made available on Cybersight’s website.²

Additionally, last year’s partnership allowed Heidelberg to support Orbis in its research project in retinoblastoma. The company’s study, which was published in JCO Global Oncology, found that telemedicine significantly improved care and increase survival rates in children with retinoblastoma, with virtual mentorship capable of enhances diagnosis, disease classification, and treatment outcomes.²

References:

1. Heidelberg Engineering launches ZinserLab to accelerate imaging innovation in eye care. News release. Heidelberg Engineering. June 16, 2025. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://www.heidelbergengineering.com/us/press-releases/heidelberg-engineering-launches-zinserlab/

2. Orbis and Heidelberg Engineering extends visionary partnership to tackle global blindness. News release. June 2, 2025. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://www.heidelbergengineering.com/us/press-releases/orbis-and-heidelberg-engineering-extends-visionary-partnership-to-tackle-global-blindness/