Ireland wins favor as device investment site - medical devices

LUXEMBOURG - Ireland's outstanding success in attracting inward investment, especially in health care and biotechnology, is confirmed by the Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA; Dublin, Ireland), which reported that 1995 exports of medical devices were worth over $1 billion (Table 6). This compared to about $500 million in 1990, a compound annual growth rate of some 15%. In excess of 70% of exports in 1995 went to other European countries and 20% went to the U.S.

Neil Buckley, executive director of the IMDA, said exports in 1995 already constituted about 1% of the world medical device market and were rapidly increasing. More gains are expected as progress is made in implementing Mutual Recognition Agreement status between the U.S. and the European Community.

Some of the international companies with plants in Ireland: Abbott, Angiodynamics, C.R. Bard, Bausch & Lomb, Baxter, Becton Dickinson, Braun Hospicare, Cook Urological, Hollister, McGhan Medical, Millipore, Olympus, Organon Teknika and Vitalograph.

There are about 40 IMDA members out of a total of 50 medical device manufacturers in Ireland, with a majority located around Dublin or in the west and southwest of the country. A limiting factor for continuing growth of Ireland as a European location for medical device marketing and production in the future will be the availability of skilled personnel.

Ireland's educational standards are already well-known, but in the past many well-qualified Irish scientists and technicians have looked abroad for career opportunities. Now recruitment often must take the form of attracting the overseas Irish to return, and head-hunters with those marching orders can be found nowadays in both the U.S. and Britain.

Table 6

Irish Medical Device Exports

Category                              1990             1995

Single-use devices, including     $400 million     $550 million
syringes, needles, catheters
Dental and orthopedic              $10 million     $180 million
implants
Textiles and reagents              $10 million     $150 million
Other                              $80 million     $120 million
Total                             $500 million       $1 billion

Source: Irish Medical Devices Association

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