Sinead Keogh
Director, BPCI and Ibec Head of Sectors
Ireland’s biopharmachem industry, employing nearly 50,000 across 90+ sites, drives economic growth with over €100 billion in annual exports, highlighting the nation’s resilience and adaptability.
Recently, BioPharmaChem Ireland (BPCI) convened 80 senior leaders for its annual ‘think-in’ to discuss shifts in the global landscape. The recent pandemic underscored the importance of local supply chains and health sovereignty, prompting nations to prioritise domestic manufacturing. As global competitors increase investment incentives, it is crucial for Ireland to adopt transformative policies to maintain its competitive edge.
Life sciences and health tech strategy
The need for a robust life sciences and health technology strategy led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is urgent. This strategy should provide a clear roadmap for the sectors, effectively coordinating state resources to foster the sustainable development of the sector. Ireland must keep pace and lead in attracting investments to strengthen its life sciences manufacturing base.
Emphasising lifelong learning for all
Talent acquisition and skill development are essential to this strategy. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs report, ‘Skills for BioPharma’ published in 2024, identified a potential 21,000 additional jobs in the sector over the next three years. Achieving this growth depends on cultivating a science, technology and digital workforce. Emphasising lifelong learning and increasing female participation in STEM fields will be vital for nurturing this talent.
Talent acquisition and
skill development are
essential to this strategy.
While we welcome the recent Budget 25 investment in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, it is critical that these funds target fundamental and applied research within Higher Education Institutes. Promoting collaborative R&D can strengthen the link between academia and industry, fostering innovation that enhances competitiveness. With 25% of all PhDs in Ireland employed in this sector, support for doctoral programmes aligned with industry needs is essential.
Infrastructure and sustainable growth
Ireland’s infrastructure must also adapt. Addressing constraints hindering growth, particularly in planning, EPA licencing and more broadly childcare, housing and health services require significant investment. Improving quality of life is essential for attracting and retaining international talent.
Increasing productivity remains the sector’s priority, driving substantial investments in digitisation and sustainability. In March, we will launch our sustainability strategy alongside our annual BPCI Responsible Care report, assessing the sustainability performance of the sector from 2021 to 2023 with insights from over 45 sites. Additionally, we are introducing a new AI programme for the life sciences manufacturing ecosystem, fostering collaboration on use cases through our Connected Health Skillnet.
