Healthcare technology company Medtronic has announced plans to add 200 research & development jobs as part of a $30m investment in the product development and laboratory services teams at its Parkmore facility in Galway.
Recruitment has already begun, with just over half the roles having been filled, and the investment is supported by the government through IDA Ireland.
"These roles will support the development of products and services in the coronary artery, heart valve and peripheral vascular disease, heart arrhythmia and pacing, hypertension and spinal injury areas," said Gerard Kilcommins, director of Medtronic Ireland.
"There will also be roles in the chemical analysis and biocompatibility fields supporting a new global laboratory services team.
Today we highlighted several impressive figures about our business in Ireland - our 4,000 strong workforce, an additional 200 R&D and Laboratory Services jobs and the 70 health conditions treated with our products and therapies," he continued.
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"However, to Medtronic employees, the most important statistic is that what we do helps to transform the lives of two people every second around the world – all of our existing and newly announced roles play their part in delivering on this mission and purpose."
Medtronic first established manufacturing operations in Ireland 40 years ago and now employs more than 4,000 people across five sites in Galway, Athlone and Dublin.
The company has its corporate headquarters in Dublin 2 and, in addition to its product development and laboratory services teams, it also has sustaining and process engineering, customer innovation and global shared services teams in Ireland.
"Medtronic Ireland has been a leading light in Ireland’s vibrant medtech sector and this latest growth underlines the company’s dedication to our country," Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar said.
"I’d like to thank the Medtronic’s team for their continued commitment to Ireland and wish them all the best for the next forty years.”
Michael Lohan, head of life sciences at IDA Ireland, said: "Medtronic’s role in nurturing and developing talent in science and engineering over four decades is something IDA Ireland deeply values and we are proud to support the growth in the company’s Irish R&D activity.”
Medtronic reported revenues of $30.1bn and an operating profit of $4.5bn last year. The company employs more than 90,000 worldwide.
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