Salt Medical, a leading Irish-based medical device contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO ) based in Galway, Ireland, https://saltmedtec.com/, is delighted to announce a new partnership with I-Form, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, based in UCD. https://www.i-form.ie/. Together, they aim to develop innovative manufacturing methods for small-batch medical devices featuring micro and nano-scale surface structures.
As part of the project, Salt Medical will work closely with Dr. Jufan Zhang, who is a Principle Investigator of the UCD Centre of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology (MNMT-Dublin ) https://www.mnmt-dublin.org/ and also a funded investigator at I-Form. They will focus on creating surface structures with unique, advanced properties—like antibacterial functionality and improved adhesion—crucial for next-generation medical devices. Through this partnership, they will explore innovations in rapid prototyping, quality-control metrology, and digital production processes, setting new standards for responsive, high-quality manufacturing.
This project, “Development of Novel Methodologies for the Manufacturing and Evaluation of Micro/Nano Scale Functional Surface Structures in Medical Devices” marks a significant step forward in producing highly specialised devices used in cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, and cancer treatments.
The partnership reflects Salt Medical’s commitment to Ireland’s biomedical sector, particularly supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs ). This collaboration also highlights I-Form’s dedication to advancing Ireland's position in high-tech manufacturing, enabling industries to adopt smarter, more sustainable processes. By combining I-Form’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and precision engineering with Salt Medical's global manufacturing experience, the project aims to help SMEs overcome key challenges in product design, prototyping, and precision manufacturing, opening new avenues for next-generation medical device innovation.
Prof. Denis Dowling, Director of I-Form, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “The partnership with Salt Medical is an example of I-Form’s commitment to driving forward advanced manufacturing in Ireland. By working together, we’re exploring new possibilities in micro and nano-scale manufacturing which have the potential to significantly enhance the performance of medical devices”
“This collaboration with I-Form at UCD represents an exciting investment in the future of medical device manufacturing,” said Dr. Yuqi Shaughnessy, Managing Director of Salt Medical. “Together, we’re building a sustainable, efficient pipeline from research to production—right here in Ireland.”
The two-year project, valued at €500,000, exemplifies Salt Medical and I-Form’s shared vision to lead innovative, flexible, and scalable solutions for the medical technology sector.
