With 14 of the world’s 15 top MedTech companies located here Ireland is one of the largest MedTech clusters for medical devices globally and employs the highest number of MedTech personnel per capita in Europe. Nine of the world’s top 10 technology firms have also located in Ireland which has helped create a resource-rich ecosystem for R&D and collaboration between tech leaders and medtech companies. The infrastructure and expertise of large tech companies in areas like artificial intelligence and big data can bring huge benefits to device makers as they build connected devices and patient-focused solutions for the future.

Why Ireland?

The MedTech industries success can be in part attributed to its fostering of partnerships across government bodies, academia, industry and international partners. For example in 2018, Ireland launched a €500 million Disruptive Innovation Technologies fund to support B2B collaboration.

Ireland’s long history of working with multinationals coupled with access to the wider EU talent pool is a key element attracting U.S. MedTech companies. The high percentage of STEM graduates from universities along with the funding and collaboration opportunities are attractive for multinational companies. EU funding such as Horizon Europe, R&D grants and a 25% R&D tax credit are also available.

Available Supports and Initiatives

‌‌ Irish MedTech Association

The Irish Medtech Associations broad focus is to promote and support an environment that encourages the sustainable development and profitable growth of FDI multinational and SME member companies. They also deliver training and upskilling for the MedTech and engineering businesses in Ireland through apprenticeship springboard programmes and Skillnets Networks.

CURAM

CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, is developing the next-generation of medical devices and training a highly-skilled workforce. Established in 2015, CÚRAM is now a world-leading Irish Medical Device R&D Centre based out of NUI Galway. With the goal of positioning Ireland as the leader in medical device technology development CÚRAM focusses on delivering affordable transformative solutions for chronic diseases.

EIT Health

EIT Health is an EU-funded network of leading health innovators established in 2015, as a ‘knowledge and innovation community’ of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Through a collaborative approach, they assist innovators to overcome barriers and take action to bring innovative products and services to market. Their aim is to connect the brightest minds in business, research and education.

EIT works with entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs to shorten the time-to-market for products and services. EIT Health links entrepreneurial businesses with the knowledge and resources to scale up and scale out as quickly as possible.

BioInnovate

NUI Galway’s BioInnovate Fellowship programme has paved the way for many MedTech start-ups. Supported by Enterprise Ireland and affiliated with Stanford BioDesign, BioInnovate delivers needs led innovation based on the proven Stanford BioDesign framework, identifying where recommended solutions would have the most impact. BioInnovate has helped to create 22 new companies successfully raising over €25million in funding to date and has 81 fellowship alumni across the healthcare sector.

Health Innovation Hub Ireland

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) was established at University College Cork in 2016. Funded by Enterprise Ireland and the HSE, HIHI incorporates partnering institutes Trinity College Dublin, NUI Galway, Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and associated hospital groups to lead on ground-breaking research and harness new healthcare technology, services and products. HIHI offer companies the opportunity for pilot and clinical validation studies and the health service access to innovative products, services and devices that they may not otherwise be exposed to.

A pro-innovation environment, impressive investment and R&D supports and an active research sector has ensured that Ireland has created a strong ecosystem for MedTech. Promoting a culture of innovation leadership within the Irish healthcare system will further develop the MedTech ecosystem in Ireland.