This is not the first time Samsung Medison has supplied premium ultrasound diagnostic devices to the world’s top hospitals. According to industry sources Friday, Samsung Medison recently agreed to supply its premium ultrasound diagnostic device “R20” to the radiology department of University College London Hospitals (UCLH), the United Kingdom’s leading hospital.
For Korean medical device makers, UCLH is known as a “wall of tears” that must be breached to expand European market share. Supplying equipment to the hospital’s demanding faculty and securing orders there is considered an important key that can unlock the “latch” to the entire European medical market at once. Considering that Europe is already the largest market, accounting for 34% of Samsung Medison’s total revenue as of the first quarter of this year, the deal is expected to serve as important momentum for expanding European market share.
“This supply deal goes beyond simply delivering equipment. It carries great significance in that we have secured a research base for collaborating with Europe’s top-level medical professionals, who lead international academic conferences and clinical research,” a company official said. Samsung Medison is also known to have signed its largest-ever advance contracts at JPR 2026, the Sao Paulo Radiology Congress in Brazil, South America’s largest medical device exhibition, held last month.
Samsung Medison has been able to sign supply contracts in succession with key global large hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom because of its research and development (R&D) competitiveness led by artificial intelligence (AI). Unlike CT and MRI, ultrasound examinations have a limitation in that diagnostic results can vary depending on the examiner’s skill level. Samsung Medison is focusing on using AI to reduce such variation and improve diagnostic consistency.
“AI automatically detects suspected lesion areas and assists the diagnosis of medical professionals,” another company official said. “There are many cases where medical professionals who trial the product recognize its performance and proceed to actual purchases.”
Notably, “R20,” the premium ultrasound device for radiology, is equipped with an AI function that detects suspected lesion areas in the liver and breast in real time. Its feature is that it reduces diagnostic variation between examiners by supplementing areas medical professionals may miss. The deep learning-based “NerveTrack” automatically recognizes and visualizes nerve locations and major anatomical structures such as blood vessels, muscles, and bones, improving the accuracy and convenience of precision procedures.
“HERA Z20,” the premium ultrasound device for obstetrics and gynecology, also puts AI functions front and center. It automatically provides the cross-sections and key measurements needed for fetal ultrasound examinations and automatically segments the placenta, uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal face to render them in three-dimensional (3D) images. Image quality is also a differentiating factor. R20 applies independently developed software-based image processing technology to enhance resolution and penetration. This makes it possible to produce clear images even in organs that are difficult to observe, such as the pancreas, bile ducts, and liver.
This AI technology competitiveness is analyzed as the result of continuous R&D investment. Samsung Medison’s R&D investment as a share of revenue expanded from 14% in 2023 to 16% last year and 17% in the first quarter of this year. In 2024, the company acquired French fetal diagnostic AI company “Sonio” for 130 billion won, marking its first merger and acquisition (M&A) since its founding.
It also carried out a research organization overhaul. In the third quarter of last year, Samsung Medison established the AI&NX Team to strengthen AI R&D capabilities. It elevated the AI Group under the existing development team to a team-level organization, reorganizing it to report directly to CEO Yoo Kyu-tae and placing the AI & Informatics Group under it. This reflects the company’s commitment to nurturing AI as a core competitiveness.
The addition of Samsung Electronics’ (005930.KS) global sales network and brand competitiveness is also analyzed as a key driver of Samsung Medison’s growth. Samsung Medison currently sells its products using 14 Samsung Electronics global units and local dealers. With Samsung Electronics’ global sales network and brand power added to its premium product competitiveness, its push into large hospitals in North America and Europe has accelerated. As about 90% of total revenue is generated overseas, local sales and marketing networks serve as an important competitive edge.
Early this year, the company unified its sales system by launching “Samsung HME America,” a medical device unit that integrated its ultrasound, CT, and digital X-ray businesses in the United States. The industry expects additional contracts and market share expansion to follow now that sales networks previously divided by product have been integrated into one.
Some analysts say Samsung Medison’s performance has entered a stable growth trajectory, continuing a march of record-high results every year as synergy with Samsung Electronics emerges. Samsung Medison’s revenue rose to 517.4 billion won in 2023, 571.2 billion won in 2024, and 665.1 billion won in 2025, marking a record high last year. Operating profit also expanded from 86.4 billion won in 2023 to 79.3 billion won in 2024 and 87 billion won in 2025. In the first quarter of this year, it recorded revenue of 186.6 billion won and operating profit of 24.1 billion won, up 14.1% and 0.4%, respectively, from the same period a year earlier.
Its global market share is also growing rapidly. Samsung Medison’s global ultrasound market share is estimated to have risen from 8.4% last year to around 10.2% in the first quarter of this year. Its competitiveness in premium imaging technology and the expansion of its product portfolio are leading to results, according to analysts.