View source for Category:Oticon A/S

'''Oticon A/S''' is a Danish [[hearing aid]] manufacturer based in [[Smørum]], [[Denmark]]. Founded in 1904 by Hans Demant, it is one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers in the world. The company is a subsidiary of [[Demant A/S]] (formerly known as William Demant Holding A/S).

== History ==
The company was founded in 1904 by Hans Demant, who began importing hearing aids to help his wife Camilla who was hearing impaired. His son William Demant later took over the business and established the company as a leading manufacturer of hearing aids.

In 1940, Oticon began producing its own hearing aids, marking a significant transition from being purely an importer to becoming a manufacturer. The company has since been at the forefront of hearing aid technology development.

=== Digital transformation ===
In the 1990s, Oticon underwent a radical organizational change under CEO Lars Kolind, implementing what became known as the "spaghetti organization" - a highly flexible and non-hierarchical organizational structure. This transformation coincided with the company's shift from analog to digital hearing aid technology.

== Products and innovation ==
Oticon specializes in the development, manufacture, and distribution of hearing aids and diagnostic equipment. The company is known for several technological innovations in the hearing aid industry:

* Introduction of the first fully digital hearing aid processing platform
* Development of BrainHearing™ technology, which supports the brain's natural process of making sense of sound
* Creation of ConnectClip for direct streaming from modern smartphones
* Implementation of Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology in hearing aids

== Research and development ==
The company maintains the Eriksholm Research Centre in Denmark, which conducts research into hearing science and technology. The centre collaborates with universities and research institutions worldwide to advance understanding of hearing loss and develop new solutions.

== Market position ==
Oticon operates globally and is one of the "Big Six" hearing aid manufacturers alongside Sonova, WS Audiology, GN Hearing, Starkey, and Liberty Hearing. The company distributes its products through a network of hearing care professionals in more than 100 countries.

== Corporate responsibility ==
The company operates several corporate social responsibility initiatives, including:
* The Oticon Foundation (now William Demant Foundation)
* Support for hearing research
* Environmental sustainability programs

== See also ==
* [[Hearing aid]]
* [[Demant A/S]]
* [[Medical device industry]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Hearing aid manufacturers]]
[[Category:Medical technology companies of Denmark]]
[[Category:Danish companies established in 1904]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Copenhagen]]
[[Category:Medical device manufacturers]]