University of Galway at the heart of a global medtech hub
Deeply connected internationally and open to the world
Galway has now firmly emerged as an internationally-recognised MedTech hub, mentioned alongside San Francisco, Boston, Minneapolis, Singapore and Berlin.
Purpose
Galway’s medtech sector delivers innovations that improve patient outcomes around the world. These breakthroughs not only enhance global healthcare but also fuel a dynamic and resilient industry at home. Through our 2025 university strategy we have committed to Innovation for Health as one of our four research pillars.
People
People are at the heart of everything. Galway’s medtech ecosystem thrives on openness and collaboration—bringing together academia, industry, healthcare professionals, and patients to co-create solutions that matter.
Place
Galway is one of Europe’s leading medtech hubs, with the University of Galway at its core. Eight of the world’s top ten medtech companies have a physical presence here. Nationally, Ireland ranks as the second-largest exporter of medical devices in Europe—producing 80% of the world’s stents and 50% of ventilators.
Culture of collaboration
Our MedTech ecosystem in University of Galway is based on a thriving culture of collaboration across our research community, our clinical colleagues, and industry partners.
Forging partnerships locally and internationally, we have developed expertise and capacity across the entire continuum of medical device research and innovation.
We also collaborate with world-leading medical device companies, such as Medtronic and Boston Scientific, as well as internationally acclaimed institutions including MIT, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Stanford University, McMaster University, and the Mayo Clinic.
We work closely with government agencies equally committed to the sector, with funders, and with stakeholders locally and internationally. Our efforts feed back into our research-led teaching which supports the development of the next generation of MedTech pioneers.
With industry, we have extensive research collaborations and we license our breakthrough technologies into the sector.
Collaboration and Covid-19
The global pandemic unleashed new frontiers in collaboration. From our MedTech hub, and across our worldwide network, our academic, industry, clinical and patient partners helped create innovative solutions. Read more about how our research community mobilised during the pandemic, and watch the trailer for the television documentary 'Off the Bench'.
Watch the trailer for Off The Bench, the documentary tracking the response of the Irish MedTech community to Covid-19.
Watch the trailer for Off The Bench, the documentary tracking the response of the Irish MedTech community to Covid-19.
Putting the patient at the centre of research
With our track record in engaged research, we have brought the patient to the centre of all we do by embedding patient involvement along the research and innovation continuum.
University of Galway is the originator of the PPI Ignite Network, a national programme to bring the public into the heart of research initiatives. The Network helps research institutions advance the involvement of the public, patients and carers in health and social care research, drawing on their lived experience to influence research from ideation to the delivery of results.
Research excellence
At University of Galway we take a multi-disciplinary approach to research. Researchers work across the spectrum from fundamental research, through to clinical and translational projects.
Our approach brings together science, engineering, medicine, psychology, economics, clinical and translational science. We have particularly strong expertise in biomechanics, mechanobiology and in medical implant and device analysis, as well as regenerative medicine.
We are home to the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation and the Institute for Clinical Trials as well as CÚRAM - the Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices.
Innovation Impacts
Our needs-led innovation programme BioInnovate Ireland allows us to—quite literally—look over the shoulders of surgeons to conceive potential new medical devices. The programme leverages a proven Standford BioDesign framework and guides multidisciplinary teams through a full cycle of innovation, from needs identification to designing and prototyping viable solutions, as well as searching for funding.
Our Innovation Office further supports these and other entrepreneurs as they spin-out companies based on discoveries made through our research.
We help support these companies as they develop their solution and their business. Supports are also in place to help leverage investment and secure FDA and other regulatory approval.
In recent years very successful MedTech companies which have spun out of our university include Aurigen Medical, Atrian Medical, Loci Therapeutics, Tympany Medical, Vetex Medical and Neurent Medical.
Many of these companies are based in our Business Innovation Centre which is focused on developing, scaling and growing the start-up community on campus, in our city and in our region. The centre is home to over 35 companies and supports a wide portfolio of start-up clients.
Meanwhile, the Health Innovation Hub Ireland is co-located with the hospital to work across the health sector with Irish businesses to creatively solve problems and improve patient care.
