SYDNEY, Australia and COPENHAGEN, Denmark — 27 March 2025: Cochlear and GN, the innovation leaders in hearing technology, have expanded their research and development (R&D) partnership within the Smart Hearing Alliance, originally established in 2015. This enhanced collaboration builds on a decade-long successful partnership. The aim is to further strengthen R&D across the two world-class companies to deliver cutting-edge integrated hearing solutions for users of cochlear implants and hearing aids.
The expanded agreement focuses on joint research and development efforts, technology sharing, and strengthening collaboration to bring products to customers. This initiative will further enhance both companies' presence in the global clinical hearing care markets. The strengthened collaboration will improve future bimodal offerings from the two companies directly benefitting users to achieve even better connectivity not only between hearing devices – but also to consumer technology, such as hand-held devices, phones, PCs and much more. 
By leveraging combined R&D investments, Cochlear and GN will work together to create innovative technologies, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and Deep Neural Networks (DNN) to help support seamless integration between devices. This is built on GN's distinctive human approach to AI, which models the brain's natural sound-processing capability to create voice clarity in complex listening environments. The partnership will also help empower clinicians to deliver an exceptional hearing experience to their patients.
GN Chief R&D Officer, Christoph Schmid, stated, “We have a proven track-record of collaborating successfully with Cochlear. Expanding this partnership allows us to innovate more than we otherwise could individually. This will benefit millions with hearing loss globally, making advanced technology more accessible through integrated solutions.”
Cochlear Chief Technology Officer Jan Janssen added, “By expanding our collaboration with GN, we can accelerate the delivery of the latest in AI and Deep Neural Networks, as well as connectivity and wireless technology to our implant recipients, providing superior performance for bimodal users.”
To help people get the most out of their hearing in everyday moments, the Smart Hearing Alliance collaboration has introduced bimodal control in the Nucleus® Smart App. Bimodal control is designed to help patients quickly and easily manage their compatible ReSound™ hearing aid and compatible Cochlear Sound Processor in the same app.
The Smart Hearing Alliance delivers bimodal solutions connecting Cochlear Nucleus cochlear implants, wireless accessories, and ReSound hearing aids.
About Cochlear Limited
People have always been Cochlear’s inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant after seeing his father struggle with hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has helped more than 700,000 people in more than 180 countries, helping people of all ages around the world to hear. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life’s opportunities and welcomes them to the world’s largest hearing implant community.
Cochlear has a global workforce of more than 5,000 people with a passion for progress who strive to meet the needs of people living with hearing loss. The company continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD$3 billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear. www.cochlear.com
About GN
GN brings people closer through our leading intelligent hearing, audio, video, and gaming solutions. Inspired by people and driven by innovation, we deliver technologies that enhance the senses of hearing and sight. We help people with hearing loss overcome real-life challenges, improve communication and collaboration for businesses, and provide great experiences for audio and gaming enthusiasts.
GN was founded more than 150 years ago with a vision to connect the world. Today, inspired by our strong heritage, GN touches more lives than ever with our unique expertise and the broadest portfolio of products and services in our history – bringing people closer to what is important to them. Founded in 1869, GN Group employs more than 7,000 people. www.GN.com
References
- World Report on Hearing. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. ISBN: 978-92-4-002048-1. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240020481
- Buchman CA, Herzog JA, McJunkin JL, et al. Assessment of Speech Understanding After Cochlear Implantation in Adult Hearing Aid Users: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online August 27, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.1584
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
For compatibility information and devices, visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility and www.resound.com/compatibility
Cochlear, Hear now. And always, Nucleus, and the elliptical logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the Cochlear group of companies.
