Audeara Strikes China Deal, Expands into Bone Conduction Technology

Hearing technology company Audeara Limited (ASX: AUA) has signed a licensing agreement with Taiwan-listed electronics group Eastech Holding Limited to bring its proprietary hearing personalisation software to the Chinese market, in what it describes as a major milestone in its global expansion plans.

Under the five-year agreement, Eastech’s wholly owned subsidiary, Eastech (Huizhou) Co., Ltd., will integrate Audeara’s technology into medical-grade hearing devices manufactured under Eastech’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) certification.

The devices will be sold under a third-party brand via a major Chinese e-commerce hearing aid distributor with national reach across platforms including Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo.

Audeara will receive royalties for each unit sold, with no minimum purchase obligations.

China is one of the largest hearing health markets in the world, with an estimated 426.5 million people affected by hearing loss in 2019, a figure expected to grow to 561 million, or 40 per cent of the population, by 2034.

“This agreement aligns technology, regulatory execution and consumer access in a way that accelerates our ability to deliver impact at scale,” Audeara chief executive James Fielding said.

Bone Conduction Partnership

The China deal follows news earlier this month that Audeara has partnered with the Ear Science Institute Australia (ESIA) to develop and evaluate bone conduction hearing solutions for high-need communities.

ESIA will contribute $100,000 and its technical expertise to the project, with Audeara providing product supply and coordination. The program will trial bone conduction devices in classrooms to support children requiring additional listening assistance.

Bone conduction technology delivers sound through vibrations via the skull, bypassing the eardrum and allowing users to hear audio while remaining aware of ambient sounds.

Record Year

The announcements come off the back of record financial results for FY25. Audeara reported cash receipts of $4.9 million, up 38.4 per cent on the previous year, and revenues of $3.786 million, a 21.9 per cent increase.

Growth was driven by the company’s AUA Technology division, which provides hearing personalisation software to third-party audio manufacturers. A follow-up order from US-based cymbal maker Zildjian is expected to materially boost September quarter receipts.

Audeara ended the June quarter with $1.42 million in cash and said it was well-positioned to deliver further growth in FY26 through a combination of international licensing, domestic wholesale expansion and new product innovation.

“This year has been a landmark for Audeara, and we’re entering the next financial year with a clear path to scale both at home and abroad,” Dr Fielding said.