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Biopharma

Why Ireland for pharma investment

  • Be part of an established ecosystem for pharmaceutical and biopharma activity, combining technology, talent and research

  • We offer regulatory stability, sub-supply capability, a multicultural workforce and collaboration opportunities with industry partners

Source the skills you need to make your investment in Ireland a success

Connect with us

Source the skills you need to make your investment in Ireland a success

Connect with us
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A Global Pharma Leader

Ireland’s life sciences sector has a global reputation for operational and innovational excellence. Leading industry names including Novartis, AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, Sanofi, Lilly, AstraZeneca, MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and Takeda have significant operations here.

  • 90+ pharmaceutical companies operate in Ireland
  • 45,000 people employed in IDA client companies
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An Exporting Powerhouse

Ireland is the world’s third largest exporter of pharmaceuticals, according to the UN International Trade Statistics database. The sector continues to evolve, expanding its capabilities to include innovation, digitalisation and next-generation technologies.

  • €116+ billion annual exports
  • Third largest exporter of pharmaceuticals globally
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Opportunities to Collaborate

Multinationals operating in Ireland have many opportunities to collaborate with domestic companies, a network of life sciences sub-supply providers and multiple industry-focused research centres spanning a variety of technologies.

  • Facilitated sharing of best practice between companies
  • Active industry-academic partnership in technology, materials, manufacturing and more
Ranking Winner

Strong Compliance Record

Ireland has an exemplary compliance record with regulatory agencies like the FDA and EMA, who collaborate and work closely with our Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to achieve trouble-free compliance.

  • 50 FDA-approved pharma and biopharma plants
  • Fair oversight of regulated companies and a culture of excellence in compliance
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World-Class Talent

Ireland’s industry can avail of skilled talent in existing pharma sites, experienced in quality assurance, quality control, product development, science and engineering. There’s also unrestricted access to the EU labour pool of over 240 million people.

  • Strong links with universities provide local talent matched to industry needs
  • Fast-track support for employment permits for skilled international labour

We are committed to Ireland and will work with all local partners to build this state-of-art next generation biomanufacturing facility as a showcase to the global biotech community

See similar companies in Ireland

Baxter
West
Novartis
MSD
Bristol Myers Squibb
Janssen
GE Healthcare
Abbvie
Regeneron
WuXi Biologics
Lilly
Pfizer
Johnson
Sanofi
Takeda
Merck
Gilead
Zoetis

Success Stories: Hear from leaders calling Ireland home

A proven path

See all Success Stories
MeiraGTx
Autodesk
Diligent
Stryker
Logitech
Boulder Media
Gene therapy startup chooses Ireland for commercial-scale manufacturing

Gene therapy startup chooses Ireland for commercial-scale manufacturing

MeiraGTx’s Shannon facility is unique, not only in Ireland but globally, as it streamlines gene therapy development, testing and manufacturing capabilities together in-house. This significantly reduces the time to patients for advanced therapeutic products, with months or potentially years saved.” -

Software leader relocates its EMEA HQ to Dublin

Software leader relocates its EMEA HQ to Dublin

We selected Dublin because of its global business environment, talent, ability to support European languages, excellent long-term cost structure, and quality of life for employees. Dublin is a vibrant, multicultural and creative city. These qualities align well with our brand and culture and we think Dublin will be a great fit for us.

Educated workforce enables rapid ramp-up for software company

Educated workforce enables rapid ramp-up for software company

In other jurisdictions that we looked at, they literally wanted you to land and sign the deal. Whereas the IDA were very powerful in thinking about the next wave of growth beyond the first 200 people, and what type of skills we might look for then. It genuinely does feel like a partnership rather than a one-and-done, and the after-sales experience is excellent too.

Ireland is home to Stryker’s European Operations headquarters

Ireland is home to Stryker’s European Operations headquarters

Stryker's presence in Ireland is more than just a business expansion; it's a journey of mutual growth, skills development, and technological innovation that helps position Ireland as a global hub for leading innovation in the medical technology industry.

Logitech’s Irish presence dates back more than three decades to 1988

Logitech’s Irish presence dates back more than three decades to 1988

We’re pleased to see Logitech’s Cork operations grow to encompass more opportunities ahead of the new year. This is a reflection not only of Logitech’s long-term performance, but also the wonderful culture and spirit our employees have developed, here and across the world. At Logitech, talent working out of Ireland is shaping the future, and enjoying it! We’re very grateful to IDA Ireland for their consistent support over the years.

Boulder Media is one of the largest animation studios Ireland

Boulder Media is one of the largest animation studios Ireland

Remaining successful in the thriving global animation industry is largely down to attracting and retaining high quality talent, making the studio the best place to produce a project. Partnering this talent with high quality projects allows Boulder Media to create the best content, entertaining audiences all over the world on a daily basis.

Find your European home

Find your European home