Cambridge Design Partnership opens R&D centre in Raleigh, NC and kicks off local recruitment drive

World-leading technology and product design company Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) today open its new, state-of-the-art R&D centre in Raleigh, North Carolina.

CDP's Raleigh team

Now in its 25th year, the company has seen impressive growth over the past 12 months, securing major new clients, delivering world-changing innovation and growing headcount by more than 40%. This success, fueled by client work in the fields of drug delivery, molecular diagnostics, consumer devices, surgical robotics and more, has driven CDP to make a considerable investment in new facilities in North Carolina’s Research Triangle.

CDP has refurbished a historic building on West Morgan Street, in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Working with the existing structure and respecting the heritage of the building and neighbourhood, the company is committed to growing roots in the Raleigh community and creating new, highly-skilled job opportunities.    

With the new facilities operational, attention now turns to a major recruitment drive, with positions open across a range of disciplines, including mechanical, electrical and software engineering, human factors, quality, manufacturing and industrial design. Early-stage professionals are invited to apply to a new intern programme.

CDP has chosen to anchor its new R&D centre and US headquarters in North Carolina’s Research Triangle due to the region’s thriving biomedical innovation sector, excellent transport links and deep pool of skilled engineers and technologists.

Aki Laakso, Partner and CDP’s Director of Raleigh Operations said; “In the past, we have served a global client base from our headquarters in Cambridge, UK. We have seen a strong increase in demand from our US clients in the past ten years, with more than half our business today coming from America. Our new Raleigh facilities, with cutting-edge labs, a design studio, user observation suite, full machine shop and pilot manufacture space, allow us to more effectively deliver world-changing innovation in the US.”

Since 2019, CDP’s US operation has been led by Aki Laakso and Hans Pflaumer. Aki Laakso is an experienced mechanical engineer with a storied history that includes three years at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and innovation across disciplines, from wearables to drug delivery devices. Hans Pflaumer has a proud track record of bringing first-of-a-kind medical devices to market and is a recognized visionary in the field of minimally invasive medical devices, with a focus on surgical robotics.

“Our new facility is a sign of the confidence we have in our US operation. The Research Triangle, with its strong culture of innovation and skilled workforce, is the right place for us,” said Aki Laakso, “We’re recruiting for a variety of exciting roles and look forward to growing right here in Raleigh” he added.

CDP delivers end-to-end product and technology development for clients in the healthcare, consumer, and industrial equipment sectors. CDP’s work starts at the point a business decides on the need for innovation and finishes with the launch of a breakthrough new product that is customer focused and commercially effective.



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