Roche Diagnostics partners with DIDI to launch strategic collaboration for healthcare design

UAE—Roche Diagnostics Middle East has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Institute for Design and Innovation (DIDI), marking the start of a pioneering collaboration that bridges the worlds of healthcare and design education.

The partnership unites two purpose-driven organizations with a shared vision of creating a healthier, more sustainable, and forward-looking future for communities across the region.

This new alliance stands out as a bold and unconventional initiative that blends healthcare innovation with creative design thinking.

By bringing together the science of diagnostics and the art of design, Roche and DIDI aim to redefine how society tackles some of today’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

 Innovation lies at the core of Roche’s identity as a global leader in diagnostics, and working with an institute centered on creativity and human-centered design, such as DIDI, reinforces its commitment to driving positive change.

At DIDI, design education extends beyond skill-building; it focuses on shaping designers who prioritize human needs and community impact in every project.

The institute empowers students to think critically, act sustainably, and approach real-world problems with empathy and purpose.

Through this collaboration, students will have the unique opportunity to apply design-thinking principles to real healthcare needs, including projects on diabetes management and the development of environmentally friendly Green Labs.

Beginning in January 2026, participating students will submit concept proposals that merge innovation and healthcare design to address genuine patient and system challenges.

Roche’s subject-matter experts will mentor the students, guide them through project development, and participate in evaluating their final capstone work.

Outstanding projects will be recognized through special awards, which may include an internship opportunity with Roche.

Selected concepts may also be featured on Roche’s Jasady platform, enabling students to present their innovative ideas to a wider audience and contribute to regional awareness of healthcare solutions.

Commenting on the partnership, Guido Sander, General Manager of Roche Diagnostics Middle East, stated that Roche is proud to formalize this strategic collaboration with DIDI, emphasizing that meaningful progress often stems from unconventional partnerships.

He added that by engaging young designers who think boldly and design with community impact in mind, Roche is paving the way for new perspectives that can transform diabetes care, sustainability, and other key healthcare areas.

Echoing this sentiment, Mohammad Abdullah, President of DIDI, highlighted that the institute champions design as a driver of social advancement and that no field embodies this more deeply than healthcare.

He noted that this collaboration aligns closely with Dubai’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation, healthcare excellence, and world-class education.

By immersing students in real-world healthcare challenges, DIDI aims to instill empathy, problem-solving, and purpose in the next generation of designers, contributing meaningfully to the evolving landscape of health innovation in the region.

Roche Diagnostics continues to strengthen healthcare across the Middle East by collaborating with educational and industry partners to advance data-driven, accessible, and personalized diagnostic solutions.

Central to its mission is empowering local talent and supporting the region’s next wave of innovators—an ambition now reinforced through its partnership with DIDI and other forward-thinking institutions across the Middle East.