Talent to Thrive newsletter - October 2025

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Talent To Thrive Newsletter October 2025

The Irish Medtech Skillnet newsletter - November 2025

Irish Medtech Skillnet is Ireland’s premier source of innovative, funded, industry-led training for the medtech and manufacturing sectors.

In this issue

Finishing Strong: Course Highlights for the rest of 2025
Industry News in Ireland
1. Announcing the launch of ‘Talent to Thrive - Powering Excellence: The Irish Medtech Skillnet Strategy 2026–2028’ and the unveiling of another flagship research report, ‘Moving Upstream – Disease Prevention as a Strategic Opportunity for Irish Medtech Innovation’.
2. Momentum in Medtech: Investment, Jobs & Innovation
3. Celebrating Ireland’s Women in STEM and Supporting the next Generation
4. Budget 2026: Ireland Lifts R&D Support for Innovation
Irish Medtech Skillnet in the Spotlight
Industry Insights - In Conversation with Jackie Murphy, Vice-President and Manufacturing Plant Manager at Alcon Ireland, and Chair of Irish Medtech.

Finishing Strong: Course Highlights for the rest of the year

November - Funded Training

Project Management Professional (PMP)®, starting 1st November - Learn More
Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices, including Chemical Characterisation, starting 11th November - Learn More
Certificate in Employability, starting 17th November - Learn More
Catheter Design & Development Workshop, starting 27th November - Learn More

January 2026 - Thinking Ahead with Funded Training for the New Year

Professional Mentor Training (EMCC), starting 20th January - Learn More
ISO 14971 in Action: Proactive Risk Management for MedTech, starting 20th January - Learn more
Post-Grad Cert in End-to-End Sterility Assurance (L9), starting 26th January. Learn More
Master of Science in End-to-End Sterility Assurance, starting 27th January. Learn More
Living Leadership, starting 10th February. Learn More
Data Analytics & Machine Learning, starting 11th February. Learn More
BioInnovate 101: Essentials of Health Technology Innovation, starting 10th March. Learn More

Remember, our training programmes are subsidised by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, saving companies a significant amount on standard course fees, with minimal barriers to access.

Whether you are a start-up, scaling up, or a multinational, all Irish companies can access our funded training programmes with no paid membership required.

Irish Medtech Skillnet develops and delivers transformative, industry-led training solutions to help companies of all sizes in the medical technology and manufacturing sectors to grow and retain best-in-class talent, supporting the future success and competitiveness of medtech in Ireland.

View our 2025/2026 Programme Catalogue here.

Industry News in Ireland: The Global Medtech Hub

Shaping the Future of Irish Medtech: A Strategic Milestone event

Irish Medtech Skillnet invites you to a strategic event for Medtech leaders and decision-makers this November at Thomond Park, Limerick a day focused on foresight, capability, and collaboration.

This event marks the launch of two cornerstone initiatives:

Talent to Thrive – Powering Excellence: The Irish Medtech Skillnet Strategy 2026–2028 – a roadmap for talent, capability, and competitiveness
Moving Upstream – Disease Prevention as a Strategic Opportunity for Irish Medtech Innovation – our 2025 flagship research report

Why attend?

Understand where skills and capability investment will deliver the greatest impact
Gain insight into future workforce trends and innovation priorities
Learn how upstream health strategies create opportunities for innovation and commercial growth
Engage with industry leaders, funders, and policy influencers shaping the sector’s next phase

Event Highlights:
• Strategic priorities for workforce development and programme innovation
• Economic and health rationale for upstream investment
• Case study on Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischaemia (CLTI) with WifOR Institute economic modelling
• Skills and capabilities required for upstream innovation

Two Leaders. One Conversation.

A fireside chat that brings leadership, strategy, and culture into sharp focus—where talent thrives and head-and-heart leadership drives excellence.

Featuring:

John Kiely – Manager of the Limerick Senior Hurling Team, who has led one of the most successful eras in GAA history through a powerful blend of strategy, resilience, and team culture.
Evelyn O’Toole – Founder & CEO of Complete Laboratory Solutions, whose journey from start-up to industry leader reflects vision, adaptability, and a commitment to growth.

Facilitated by Padraig Hyland, CEO of The Core Story, this session will explore what it takes to build high-performing teams, lead with clarity and purpose, and sustain success in a changing world.

This conversation reflects the principles behind our new strategy:
Talent to Thrive – Powering Excellence, developed through deep discovery and the Heart Compass process. It’s about blending Smart + Heart, strategic foresight with human connection, to create lasting impact.

Speakers include:

John Kiely - Manager of the Limerick Senior Hurling Team.
Evelyn O’Toole – CEO, Complete Laboratory Solutions
Mark Jordan – CEO, Skillnet Ireland
Eoghan Ó Faoláin – Director Irish Medtech
Kevin O’Keeffe – Stryker, Senior Director Operations and Site Lead, Stryker
Finbar Dolan - Founder & CEO of Versono Medical
…and other key voices

Date: November 11th, 2025
Location: Thomond Park, Limerick
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Momentum in Medtech: Investment, Jobs & Innovation

Despite international uncertainty, Ireland’s medtech sector has benefitted from a major investment wave in 2025, reinforcing its position as a global hub for innovation, talent, and R&D. Here are some of the highlights:

Investments & Expansion

Complete Laboratory Solutions to create 140 new jobs in Galway as it scales global ambitions
Dublin-based software firm Deciphex, has secured €15m venture debt to drive expansion of their digital pathology services, using artificial intelligence to interrogate tissue sections from biopsies to accelerate workflows and improve patient turnaround time and diagnostic accuracy.
Dublin-based biotech Meta-Flux has raised €1.8m to expand its technical team in Ireland and develop its AI-powered platform designed in order to conduct disease simulations in drug development.
Mark O’Sullivan, the co-founder and CEO of NeuroBell, is named as this year’s Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-up (HPSU) Founder of the Year.

Celebrating Ireland’s Women in STEM and Supporting the next Generation

STEM Passport for Inclusion, run by Maynooth University, is calling on industry professionals to step forward as mentors to support girls from under-served communities entering STEM careers. The programme has already reached more than 5,000 participants and partnered with over 1,000 mentors across 180+ companies.

The initiative offers Transition Year students a university-accredited STEM qualification, one-to-one industry mentoring and real work-experience pathways – specifically targeting young women from working-class backgrounds, who remain under-represented in STEM. For industry, this is a meaningful opportunity: professionals across medtech and related sectors can give back, build leadership capacity and contribute to a talent pipeline that better reflects the society we serve.

At the other end of the spectrum, we proudly recognise the winners, nominees, organisers and sponsors of the Women in STEM Awards 2025 which took place in Dublin on October 23rd. These awards celebrated the best and brightest women in Irish STEM – researchers, engineers, innovators and leaders who are shaping the future. Congratulations to all the award-winners, shortlisted candidates and everyone behind the scenes who made the event a success, particularly Susan Treacy BSc., M.Med.Sc., PG Dip. Of HealthTech Ireland, winner of the Women in STEM Award for Health Technology.

Why these initiatives matter for medtech-industry stakeholders:

Mentoring young talent strengthens workforce diversity and builds a pipeline for future medtech innovation.
Engaging with programmes like STEM Passport enhances your organisation’s talent brand and supports inclusion, which is increasingly important for global investors and supply chains.
Recognising women leaders in STEM sends a powerful signal: that Ireland’s medtech sector is committed to equity, growth and future-proofing skills.

If your company has senior women in STEM roles, or mentoring-capable professionals, now is a great time to get involved – both to support talent and to benefit from the long-term upside. Read more here.

Budget 2026: Ireland Lifts R&D Support for Innovation

In the recently announced Budget 2026, the Irish Government made strong moves to back research-driven business growth — a clear signal for sectors like medtech. One of the headline changes: the Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit rate has been raised from 30 % to 35 %. For smaller firms, the first-year refund threshold has increased from €75,000 to €87,500, improving early-stage cash flow. The Government also committed to publishing an “R&D Compass” in the coming weeks — a roadmap for further reform, which will look at issues such as outsourcing rules and qualifying expenditure definitions. In addition, funding for the Enterprise Ireland and other enterprise-agencies will be ramped up to support scaling firms, overseas market entry and innovation-led jobs.

Why it matters for medtech

For Ireland’s medtech sector, which relies heavily on R&D, innovation and global competitiveness, this budget isn’t just welcome — it offers a tangible boost. A higher tax credit rate and improved access for SMEs make the cost of innovation more manageable. The R&D Compass offers hope for further alignment of rules with how R&D actually works in practice (for example, outsourcing and university collaboration).

Bottom line
The Budget reinforces Ireland’s ambition to remain a top destination for medtech innovation and investment. It’s a strong vote of confidence in knowledge-intensive sectors and should help companies with long-term R&D strategies, product development and export growth. Learn more on the gov.ie website.

Irish Medtech Skillnet Events Calendar

Irish Medtech Skillnet on the Road

Promoting our transformative training solutions “on the road” is all in a day’s work for our team! These events keep us close to our industry audience and drive awareness of our industry-led, funded programmes, which attendees can avail of.

If you’re planning an event or career day to support continuing professional development for your employees, we would love to have a stand there! We can also participate in industry events as speakers or panel participants. Here’s how the remainder of 2025 is shaping up. Please get in touch if you'd like us to add your event to the list.

Launch of Talent to Thrive - Powering Excellence: The Irish Medtech Skillnet Strategy 2026–2028 and the unveiling of a research report, Moving Upstream – Disease Prevention as a Strategic Opportunity for Irish Medtech Innovation, on 11th November 2025 at Thomond Park, Limerick. Register Here
Post Graduate Certificate in Sterility Assurance Graduation at the Irish Medtech Sterility Forum on 20th November 2025 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone
Medtech Rising 2025: We’re proud to sponsor this Irish Medtech event on Thursday, 4th December 2025, at the Galmont Hotel, Galway
We’re delighted to celebrate the achievements of participants on our subsidised training programmes, as they graduate from programmes in the coming months, including:
- Bachelor of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing
- Postgraduate Certificate in End-to-End Sterility Assurance (L9)
- Masters in Medical Technology Regulatory Affairs

Industry Insights: An interview with Jackie Murphy, Vice-President and General Manager of Alcon Ireland.

Jackie is the Vice President, Manufacturing and General Manager of Alcon Ireland.

Jackie joined the company as a Manufacturing Engineer when it was Summit Technology, a manufacturer of refractive lasers before progressing to Head of Manufacturing.

When acquired by Alcon, the Cork plant was repurposed as an Intraocular lens manufacturing site, and Jackie was promoted to General Manager to start up the manufacturing process for Alcon’s IOL portfolio of products. During her tenure in this role, she has grown the plant to become a key site in the Alcon network, employing over 650 people. Jackie also spent three years as General Manager of Alcon’s US Intraocular lens/delivery device site in Huntington, West Virginia

Jackie, your journey from a rural village in County Limerick to leading one of Ireland’s most advanced medtech sites is inspiring. How has your background shaped your leadership style and your vision for the sector?

Growing up in a rural community gave me an appreciation for the importance of community and the discipline of hard work. It shaped my belief that talent can come from anywhere and that everybody has something to offer given the right opportunity to thrive. I believe in setting a clear purpose that others can buy into and then being visible, listening actively, and empowering teams to take ownership of their work. At Alcon Cork, we’ve built a culture where people feel valued and heard, and where innovation is driven not just by technology, but by trust and collaboration. That same ethos informs my vision for the sector. I want Irish Medtech to be recognised for world-class innovation powered by exceptional talent. We’ve made incredible progress, but we must continue to invest in talent, embrace digital transformation, and ensure that our growth is sustainable.

Ireland is home to over 450 medtech companies and 48,000 direct employees. What do you believe is the unique value proposition of Ireland’s medtech ecosystem, and how can we protect and grow that

advantage in the years ahead?

Ireland’s medtech ecosystem is globally recognised for its manufacturing excellence, innovation, and talent. We produce a significant share of the world’s coronary stents, orthopaedic devices, and ventilators, and we’re the second-largest exporter of medical devices in the EU. Ireland is unique in how multinationals, SMEs, academia, and government agencies work together to drive continuous improvement, grow R&D and now adopt and utilise digital and AI to transform how we work.

My top three priorities to protect and grow Ireland’s advantage are:

Continue investing in emerging technologies—especially AI—to drive operational efficiencies and innovation.
Strengthen workforce development through expanded apprenticeships and leadership programs that build future-ready talent.
Improve infrastructure—housing, transport, and energy—to attract global investment and retain the skilled workers who drive our innovation.

As Chair of Irish Medtech, you’re now helping to shape national strategy. What are the most urgent priorities for the sector today from talent pipelines to innovation capacity and where do you see the greatest potential for public-private collaboration?

Ireland’s medtech sector is at a pivotal moment. The most urgent priorities today are expanding the talent pipeline, accelerating innovation capacity, and building the infrastructure to stay globally competitive. We’re seeing a growing need to invest in employee upskilling, leadership development, and to equip teams with digital and AI capabilities.

The greatest potential for public-private collaboration lies in workforce development and digital transformation. Initiatives like industry-led apprenticeships, AI skillnets, and joint upskilling programs with education boards are already making an impact. By aligning government incentives, academic expertise, and industry needs, Ireland can continue to lead in smart manufacturing and medtech innovation.

The ‘Talent to Thrive’ Future Skills Report outlines the capabilities needed to sustain Ireland’s medtech leadership. How do you see sectoral Skillnet networks, like Irish Medtech Skillnet, playing a role in building those capabilities and what more can be done to future-proof our workforce?

Sectoral Skillnet networks like the Irish Medtech Skillnet are essential to building the capabilities outlined in the Talent to Thrive Future Skills Report. They provide targeted, industry-led training that aligns with real workforce needs, whether it's leadership development, digital transformation, or technical upskilling. These networks help SMEs and multinationals alike stay competitive by closing skill gaps and future-proofing talent.

To support future leaders, we need to better define career pathways and establish key roles that help people build toward leadership. We need to expand apprenticeships, fund AI and GenAI training, and support rotational programs that build leadership depth. The goal is to create a dynamic, resilient workforce that can adapt to rapid change and sustain Ireland’s medtech leadership

Digital transformation is accelerating across manufacturing, with AI at the forefront of innovation. How do you see AI and other emerging digital technologies reshaping medtech operations in Ireland?

AI and digital transformation are fundamentally reshaping medtech operations in Ireland, replacing traditional manual operations that are reactive in nature to more automated environments that utilise machine learning and data analytics proactively.

The Medtech sector in Ireland is embracing AI at a pace that exceeds national averages. According to Irish Medtech’s 2025 manufacturing report, 54% of manufacturers already prioritise AI, and two-thirds plan to launch new initiatives within two years. Yet, SMEs face barriers to scaling these technologies, which is why Irish Medtech is advocating for funding for SME-led digital transformation initiatives.

AI and digital technologies are transforming the technical nature of work in Ireland as well as significantly reshaping how people work. People are having to upskill and adapt quickly which is resulting in a parallel cultural transformation. Ultimately, AI is not just a tool—it’s a strategic enabler. It’s helping Irish medtech sites like ours become global centres of excellence, fostering innovation, improving competitiveness, and attracting talent. As we look ahead, the challenge will be to ensure inclusive digital transformation across all tiers of manufacturing, with a strong focus on workforce upskilling, regulatory readiness, and sustainable growth.

The recent ‘Empowering Women in STEM’ study highlights both progress and persistent barriers in gender representation. What actions do you believe are most impactful in creating inclusive, equitable workplaces and how can leaders drive meaningful changes across the sector?

The “Empowering Women in STEM” study finds that, in a nutshell, even though progress is being made, too few girls are choosing STEM subjects in schools and colleges. To create truly inclusive and equitable workplaces, we need action in some key area —education, workplace culture, and leadership accountability.

First, building the pipeline of female talent must begin early. The study shows that role models and parental encouragement have a profound impact on girls’ engagement in STEM, especially at the primary level. Industry must partner with education to broaden access, equip educators, and dismantle stereotypes that discourage girls from pursuing technical careers. Establishing an ERG to visit schools to give career talks

and showcase real-world examples of STEM could be an easy starting point for companies that want to engage.

Second, workplace culture must evolve to support women not just