(Vienna, 31 March 2025) The Viennese medical technology company SIMCharacters GmbH, a MedUni Vienna spin-off known for developing highly realistic simulation manikins such as the premature infant simulator "Paul", has been acquired by the Norwegian company Laerdal Medical. Laerdal Medical is a global leader in the field of medical simulation and emergency medicine.
SIMCharacters is a spin-off of the Medical University of Vienna. The company developed the smallest high-end patient simulator for realistic training scenarios. As part of the acquisition, not only the technologies but also all employees were taken over. The Vienna site will be retained for international development activities.
Innovative premature baby simulator "Paul"
The SIMCharacters success story began with the development of the premature infant simulator "Paul". Pediatric intensivist Jens-Christian Schwindt, a senior physician at MedUni Vienna for many years, worked together with colleagues from the fields of neonatology and medical technology to develop a simulator that offers an unprecedented level of fidelity to reality. Launched on the market in 2016, "Paul" corresponds to a premature baby in the 27th week of pregnancy and can realistically display the subtle signs of illness in newborns.
Innovative developments in the fields of microelectronics, sensor technology, mechanics and animatronics were required to integrate the complex technology into a model weighing just 1000 grams. Today, the simulator is considered the smallest and most modern high-end premature simulator in the world. Another new addition to the portfolio is the "Emily" simulator, the world's most advanced newborn simulator.
Scientific success with global significance
The takeover by Laerdal Medical is seen as a significant success by everyone involved. "This step underlines the commitment of everyone involved, from the inventors to the founding team and the university, to driving innovative technologies forward and bringing cutting-edge research from Vienna to the world," explained Michael Hoschitz, Head of Technology Transfer at MedUni Vienna.
The new partnership between SIMCharacters and Laerdal Medical aims to further improve the highly realistic training opportunities for neonatologists and intensive care physicians and establish them worldwide.