Merial, the animal health division of Sanofi, announced today it has joined the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for the Development and Application of Internet-of-Things Technologies. The two organizations will explore advances to animal health utilizing connected technologies, which is the communication between 'smart' objects or devices – in homes, cars, veterinary clinics, farms or other - through connected networks like the internet, radio frequencies and other forms of transmission.

The goal of this collaboration is to help Merial and Georgia Tech identify and understand the potential of networked devices for animal health. Telemedicine and wearable technologies for example are opening a new potential era of remote health management and monitoring capabilities, and are only the beginning of how enabled devices can create new links between animals, their owners and veterinarians. The analysis of the data are not only going to demand new and more sophisticated tools, but provide opportunities for increased efficiencies, and the potential to significantly improve the healthcare and wellness of animals.

"Meeting today's global animal health challenges requires innovative approaches. This collaboration supports the way Merial thinks about integrating technology to benefit animal health," said Sebastien Lafon, Global Head of Digital Business at Merial. "We're excited to collaborate with Georgia Tech to better understand how connected technology can support our efforts in disease prevention and make a difference for our customers in the overall health management of both pets and farm animals."

According to the Gartner Group, the IoT will connect 26 billion devices by 2020 and that will potentially affect all sectors of the economy and society. Through this multi-year membership of CDAIT, Merial will be able to shape and participate in research projects that will positively impact human and animal health.

"Humans have had a long and essential connection with animals throughout our ancestry," said Alain Louchez, Managing Director of CDAIT. "Merial offers a unique understanding of this connection and how it is evolving with new technological advances in veterinary medicine. We hope that this partnerships yields new and more efficiencies in caring for pets and producing safe, abundant and high-quality protein for humans around the world." 

Merial joins founding members of CDAIT, which include AT&T, AirWatch by VMware, Cisco, IBM, Flex, Samsung, Stanley Black and Decker, and Wipro.