Westmeath medical devices companies were among 80 companies exhibiting at the Enterprise Ireland Med in Ireland Expo at the Convention Centre Dublin last week, gaining exposure to 250 medical technology and healthcare companies from 31 countries. One of the exhibiting companies was Mergon Group Ltd from Castlepollard, County Westmeath.
Over 930 commercial meetings were scheduled between 80 Irish medical technology companies and potential business partners from the USA, Japan, China, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. These one-to-one meetings allowed the international visitors to follow up on site visits they made earlier that week to companies located in 17 counties including Cork, Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Offaly, Dublin, and Wexford.
Opening the event, Richard Bruton, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said:
“The medical technology sector is an area of strategic strength in Ireland, and one which this government is targeting for the growth and jobs we so badly need. It is crucial that we not only build on the incredible base of multinational medtech companies already located in Ireland, but also ensure that Irish companies can start and grow in this sector to help create an indigenous engine of growth.
“This event presents tremendous opportunities for the sector - €55m in new business was generated for participating Irish companies from previous Med in Ireland events and with over 930 meetings arranged by Enterprise Ireland between international visitors and Irish companies, and 650 people in attendance, Med in Ireland 2011 looks set to surpass all expectations.”
Dr Brian O’Neill, Lifesciences manager at Enterprise Ireland pointed out that the Irish medical technologies sector is a vibrant and growing one which currently employs 25,000 people, up 7 per cent on 2010, and attributed this success to Ireland’s cohesive and integrated medical technologies cluster.
“As a small country, Ireland has been able to bring together highly innovative indigenous companies, large well-established FDI multinationals, a continually developing world-class research base and strong links with the clinical community to create this rich and convergent landscape with world-class expertise across key sectors such as biopharma, medtech, and ICT,” he said. “This ‘cohesiveness’ is now a key competitive strength internationally and Enterprise Ireland has organised Med in Ireland 2011 to capitalise on this and facilitate new strategic partnerships between Irish and international companies,” said Mr O’Neil.
