Overview
BioPharmaChem Ireland (BPCI) has launched its Budget 2027 submission, Future-proofing a Resilient BioPharmaChem Sector, calling on the Government to build sector resilience through strategic investments that enhance the competitiveness of the industry in Ireland.
With over 90 biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies in Ireland, employing over 73,000 people directly and a further 30,000 indirectly, the sector is a cornerstone of the State's advanced manufacturing and innovation economy. However, to maintain our global leadership, navigate the twin digital and green transitions, and cultivate a structurally resilient industry, BPCI is urging the Government to address the competitiveness challenges facing the sector.
Our pillars
BioPharmaChem Ireland’s Budget 2027 submission outlines the recommendations across three key pillars:
Pillar 1: Deliver a world-class innovation ecosystem
- Modernising the R&D Framework to Drive Process Innovation: Building upon the successful increase of the headline R&D Tax Credit rate to 35% in the last Budget, the priority for Budget 2027 must shift to expanding the framework's remit across both research and process development. This includes encompassing advanced process innovation, updating definitions of qualifying activities, and allowing qualifying expenditure on offshore connected-party R&D (capped at 100% of the firm’s domestic R&D spend) to anchor Ireland's position as a global research centre.
Pillar 2: Support a Resilient Life Sciences Sector
- Future-Proofing Infrastructure and Governance: Sustaining Ireland's global edge amidst increasing competition requires that we actively future-proof our life sciences ecosystem. Budget 2027 provides an opportunity to support robust national governance to oversee the National Life Sciences Strategy, accelerate the transition to affordable renewable energy, and integrate sophisticated AI capabilities to drive manufacturing efficiency across the supply chain. These technological and green advancements must be anchored by the rapid delivery of critical utility and grid infrastructure. In doing so, Ireland can safeguard the productive capacity of this vital sector to support long-term economic resilience.
Pillar 3: Invest in skills and talent to drive economic growth and innovation
- Providing an NTF Spending Framework and Surplus Cap: To meet the evolving needs of a cutting-edge workforce, the Government must establish multi-annual spending targets for the National Training Fund (NTF) to bridge critical skills gaps by integrating specialised drug discovery training, entrepreneurial acumen, advanced digitalisation, and artificial intelligence (AI) education across the entire learning lifecycle. Furthermore, a maximum cap on the fund's surplus should be introduced; reaching this cap should trigger a temporary suspension of training levy payments, enabling employers to invest directly in staff training if State funds remain unallocated.
The BioPharmaChem Ireland Budget 2027 submission emphasizes that policy development must be matched by concrete budgetary allocations to unlock the sector's full potential and ensure long-term global competitiveness
