US healthcare and biopharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly has confirmed a €400 million investment in a manufacturing facility in Limerick and the creation of more than 300 highly skilled jobs
The development on a greenfield site in the Raheen Business Park is subject to planning approval and the company will submit a planning application with Limerick City and County Council in the coming weeks.
The new facility will expand Lilly’s manufacturing network for biologic active ingredients and play a key role in bringing its Alzheimer’s medication to patients around the world.
The new jobs will include engineers, scientists and operations personnel, who will use the latest biologics manufacturing technology to produce life-changing treatments.
In addition, an estimated 500 additional positions will be required while the facility is under construction.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that the Mid-West had become a hub for leading biopharma companies such as Lilly and he was pleased that the company chose Limerick for its new manufacturing centre.
“Lilly produces crucial healthcare products which are making a huge difference to the lives of patients around the world fighting some of the world’s most serious illnesses. This new manufacturing centre is a significant expansion of that work and I wish the entire team the very best with the project.”
Lilly Manufacturing Operations President Edgardo Hernandez said that over the past 40 years, they had continued to invest in Ireland in part because of supportive government policies that value life science innovation.
“This new Lilly campus in Limerick will allow us to expand our capacity to make innovative new medicines that can help treat some of the world’s most serious illnesses. It will use the latest technology to support advancements in science, productivity and sustainability, further establishing Lilly as a global manufacturing leader.”
IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan said an investment of this scale by Lilly was very welcome news for the Mid-West Region.
“Lilly employs more than 2,300 people in Cork and the decision to significantly expand its footprint into the Mid-West demonstrates the confidence Lilly has in Ireland and the region’s strong talent pool,” he added.
Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell described the announcement as great news for Limerick City and the Raheen, Dooyadoyle and Mungret areas in particular.
“An investment of this magnitude, in terms of both capital and job creation is a serious statement of confidence by Lilly in what ‘Brand Limerick’ has to offer as a strategic business location. This includes both the quality of the available workforce and the graduates from UL, TUS Limerick, and MIC.
