Latest news with #Affidea
The 42
03-07-2025
- Business
- The 42
Ulster Rugby secure new naming-rights partner for Ravenhill Stadium
ULSTER RUGBY HAVE secured a new long-term naming-rights sponsorship deal for Ravenhill Stadium. Effective immediately, the home of Ulster Rugby will officially become known as Affidea Stadium (pronounced AF-fi-DAY-ah) after the northern province agreed a partnership with the European healthcare company. In a statement, Ulster said that the new partnership will provide 'a strong platform to invest in the development of players, facilities and fan experience'. Advertisement Affidea, who entered the Irish market in 2007 with the acquisition of MRI Ireland, now operates in over 16 countries and has 410 clinics across Europe. Affidea Ireland have recently expanded their footprint in the north, with plans approved for the company to open a state-of-the-art private hospital in Belfast in 2026. The new facility is set to include an orthopaedic and sports medicine centre of excellence. Ulster CEO Hugh McCaughey said that the province is 'delighted to welcome Affidea as our new stadium naming-rights partner.' 'Affidea shares our passion for high performance, our commitment to the health and wellbeing of people across the province, and our vision for the future of rugby in Ulster,' McCaughey added. 'Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster.' Barry Downes, CEO of Affidea UK and Ireland said: 'Affidea is thrilled to partner with Ulster Rugby, a club with rich heritage, passionate support, and a deep-rooted connection to the local community. 'This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Affidea to further grow our presence and impact in the province of Ulster. Rugby is a game that inspires excellence, teamwork, and trust, values that align strongly with our approach to healthcare. We're proud to see our name on a stadium that also represents those ideals.' Ireland's senior women's team will play the first game at the newly branded Affidea Stadium on 9 August (. Scott Bemand's side will host Canada 48 hours before the head coach announces his squad for the Rugby World Cup.
Belfast Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Ulster Rugby confirm deal with leading healthcare provider as new stadium sponsor
The leading European health diagnostics company has agreed a deal with the province that will see its name replace that of Kingspan at Ravenhill rugby ground, which will be renamed Affidea Stadium. It is understood that an announcement was originally planned for July 10, however the reveal was rushed forward after the province were contacted with news of the partnership by the Belfast Telegraph. Notably, the province have not revealed what the financials behind what they have described as 'landmark' deal will be, or the length of it, although it seems unlikely that it will be the same 10-year term that Kingspan agreed in June 2014. Ulster have been on the lookout for a new sponsor since confirming in January 2024 they would be moving on from Kingspan, whose role in the Grenfell disaster led to significant scrutiny on their relationship, following a one-year "transition period". In March it was confirmed that Co Antrim-based manufacturing company SAM would replace Kingspan as the province's principal sponsor, which will see their logo on the team's shirts, but would not be taking on the stadium sponsorship as well. That, instead, has been given to Affidea, which runs 19 clinics across the island of Ireland and currently operates three established facilities in Northern Ireland – Orthoderm, Hillsborough Private Medical Clinic and Northern MRI – while in 2023 it announced its intention to open a new state-of-the-art facility on the Boucher Road. The first game at the newly-named Affidea Stadium will be on August 9 when Ireland face Canada as part of the Women's Summer Series, with Ulster's first fixture due to be on September 26 when they face Dragons in their opening United Rugby Championship fixture. 'We are delighted to welcome Affidea as our new stadium naming rights partner,' commented Ulster Rugby chief executive Hugh McCaughey. "Affidea shares our passion for high performance, our commitment to the health and wellbeing of people across the province, and our vision for the future of rugby in Ulster. Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster.' Barry Downes, chief executive of Affidea UK and Ireland said: 'Affidea is thrilled to partner with Ulster Rugby, a club with rich heritage, passionate support, and a deep-rooted connection to the local community. This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Affidea to further grow our presence and impact in the province of Ulster. "Rugby is a game that inspires excellence, teamwork, and trust, values that align strongly with our approach to healthcare. We're proud to see our name on a stadium that also represents those ideals.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Affidea Group selects b-rayZ as its preferred AI partner in breast imaging, marking strategic collaboration
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a strategic move to improve patient outcomes in breast cancer, Affidea, a leading pan-European provider of community-based polyclinics, specialist services and advanced diagnostics, is proud to announce that it has selected b-rayZ, a leader in AI-powered breast imaging solutions, as its preferred AI partner for breast imaging. Breast cancer diagnostics often face fragmentation, with critical information scattered across different modalities and specialists. This can slow down decision-making and delay life-saving treatments. b-rayZ's AI-powered platform is designed to eliminate these gaps, ensuring a seamless diagnostic pathway that enhances both clinical precision and therapeutic options for women. By choosing b-rayZ as its AI partner, Affidea is taking a decisive step towards making precision medicine a reality, one diagnosis at a time. The b-rayZ solution is already in use in Affidea Switzerland, at Affidea's Centre of Excellence in Breast Cancer, Brust Zentrum Zurich, as well as at Affidea Givision, Site Hôpital Daler. The technology has also been successfully implemented across other markets such as Affidea Lithuania and Affidea Spain, with further expansions planned in other Affidea countries offering breast imaging services. These early installations reflect the growing momentum and confidence in b-rayZ's ability to standardise and elevate diagnostic quality across diverse clinical environments. By implementing this innovative AI solution, Affidea is reinforcing its commitment to early detection and improved outcomes in breast cancer across Europe. Affidea has also joined b-rayZ as a strategic investor in their Series A extension equity funding round. This investment marks a significant milestone in b-rayZ's journey and validates their vision and growth strategy. The partnership strengthens b-rayZ's position in the industry and opens up valuable collaboration opportunities to accelerate product development, expand into new markets, and enhance customer offerings. Cristina Rossi, CEO and founder of b-rayZ, stated: 'At b-rayZ, we are deeply committed to preserving women's health. Every woman's journey through breast cancer diagnosis is unique, and our AI solutions are designed to provide the highest level of diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, tailored to each one's needs. Being selected by Affidea as their preferred AI partner is a testament to our shared vision of transforming breast cancer diagnostics. Affidea's investment in our Series A extension further validates this alignment and fuels our ambition to scale. Through this strategic partnership, we are combining our technological expertise with Affidea's extensive clinical network to ensure that women across Europe receive faster, more precise, and more personalised breast imaging solutions.' Dr Charles Niehaus, Deputy CEO of Affidea, highlighted the broader strategic impact of the partnership: 'This collaboration with b-rayZ represents more than just the adoption of AI. It is a strategic alliance aimed at redefining breast cancer diagnostics. Together, we plan to deepen our collaboration to further develop the AI solutions, to empower radiologists, optimise clinical workflows, and improve patient care. This partnership – both strategic and financial – positions us in the right direction to accelerate innovation across our network. By integrating AI across our network, we are ensuring that women across Europe receive the most accurate and timely diagnoses possible, tailored to them, reinforcing our mission to set new standards in patient care.' Dr Alessandro Roncacci, SVP and Chief Medical Officer at Affidea, added: 'Breast imaging is a highly specialised field that requires precision, experience, and the ability to interpret complex data. AI-powered solutions, like those developed by b-rayZ, are revolutionising breast cancer diagnostics by augmenting radiologists' expertise and ensuring greater consistency in detection. Through this partnership, we are integrating AI to enhance our sub-specialty breast imaging, improving diagnostic accuracy, and optimising personalised screening pathways. This marks a significant step forward in delivering earlier diagnoses, reducing variability in interpretations, and ultimately ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes for women across Europe.' About Affidea GroupAffidea ( is a leading pan-European provider of specialist healthcare services, including cancer care, community-based polyclinics and advanced diagnostic imaging. Founded in 1991, the company operates over 410 centres across 15 countries, with more than 14 million patient visits every year. Due to its track record for patient safety, the company has become the most awarded diagnostic imaging provider in Europe by the European Society of Radiology (ESR), as over 90% of its centres are recognised on the Eurosafe Wall of Stars by the ESR. Affidea is majority-owned by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), a leading investment holding company, focused on long-term value-creation with a stable and supportive family shareholder base. About b-rayZThe b-rayZ AI solution ( is part of an ever-growing multi-modality platform fully dedicated to breast cancer diagnostics. b-rayZ supports women throughout their diagnostic journey with a tailored ecosystem of solutions driven by clinical needs. With cutting-edge AI technology and years of clinical experience in breast imaging, b-rayZ offers a comprehensive yet easy-to-use solution that provides a comprehensive set of industry-leading AI modules. All of these modules are designed to meet the needs of medical professionals and support the daily work of both medical radiology assistants, radiologists and hospital managers. Media Contacts For b-rayZKevin OlbrichMarketing Manager b-rayZ For Affidea GroupOana DumitroiuSenior Vice-President Marketing & A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
