LIMERICK based Cook Medical has this Thursday officially opened its new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) Innovation Centre at its plant in Limerick.
The Innovation Centre together, with the expansion of cleanrooms, packaging, storage and other facilities, represents an investment of €10million by Cook Medical with the support of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland. This commitment to R&D and a growing product pipeline has increased staff by 100 over the past two years and augurs well for additional employment in the future.
Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation attending the opening said, “Life sciences is a key sector targeted in our Action Plan for Jobs, and we have put in place a range of changes to support growth in this sector, such as the establishment of a Health Innovation Hub. Today’s announcement that Cook Medical is establishing a state-of-the-art innovation centre in Limerick with an investment of €10million is a very welcome vote of confidence in the sector. I wish them every success and hope that, with the right supports from Government, we can see further growth in the future”.
Cook Medical’s Limerick site currently develops peripheral vascular, gastroenterology and urology devices for global distribution. The Innovation Centre is a dedicated space enabling the company to collaborate closely with physicians. Equipped with the latest technology to recreate and simulate clinical conditions, it will enable improved device testing and better product design outcomes.
Dr Jan-Werner Poley, Head of Endoscopy at the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, comments, “Having been involved in the development of several Cook Medical endoscopy devices, I feel confident that I have the tools I really need. Cook’s Research and Development team helps me turn my ideas into reality. I am pleased that the brand new Innovation Centre will allow more physicians to cooperate with Cook in this way.
“Cook Medical is one of the longest established companies in the medical devices industry,” says Barry O’Leary, Chief Executive, IDA Ireland. “Their products are sold in 135 countries across the world. Cook is a large employer in the Limerick region – they make an huge contribution to the local economy. Cook’s decision to continue to invest in Ireland is a clear endorsement of the country’s pro-business environment and of the quality of the staff available in Limerick. Cook’s investment will ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of research and development in new technologies and products in the medical device sector. “
At present, Europe’s regulatory system enables innovative solutions to be brought to market in a timely fashion, benefiting patients everywhere. Thanks in part to this innovation-friendly environment, Ireland has developed a medtech cluster now made up of over 250 companies, of which Cook Medical is a major player.
Bill Doherty, EMEA Vice President of Cook Medical explains, “I am excited that Cook Medical in Limerick now has its own Innovation Centre dedicated to collaborating with physicians. We are looking forward to welcoming doctors and surgeons from across Europe and further afield as we work towards creating much needed innovative devices for patients throughout the world”.
