Overview
Ibec’s BioPharmaChem Ireland and Irish Medtech submission to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’s Public Consultation on the National Life Sciences Strategy.
BioPharmaChem Ireland and Irish Medtech, the Ibec trade associations representing over 350 members, have formally welcomed the Government’s public consultation on the National Life Sciences Strategy (NLSS). As a vital pillar of the national economy, the life sciences sector encompasses more than 700 pharma, medtech, and health technology companies. These organisations collectively employ 102,000 people and generate global exports exceeding €120 billion, providing an invaluable societal impact by ensuring patients at home and abroad gain rapid access to lifesaving and life-changing treatments.
In response to heightening geopolitical uncertainty and emerging challenges to Irish competitiveness, the industry is calling for an ambitious NLSS that adopts a "whole ecosystem" approach. This strategy must effectively address key barriers to growth and innovation while providing a stable, predictable legislative and regulatory roadmap. By creating these conditions, the Government can secure the long-term capital investment necessary to sustain Ireland’s global standing. Success will require a strategic focus on enabling Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I), increasing access to modern therapies, and developing a future-proof talent pipeline that supports the adoption of digital technologies and advanced manufacturing
Our priorities
The full submission reflects the views and inputs from across the membership with expertise spanning innovation, digitalisation, RD&I, regulatory affairs, talent and manufacturing and sets out the key outcomes the Strategy must achieve. It includes our comprehensive industry White Paper which identifies 37 critical considerations under three pillars:
Pillar 1: Foundations for Competitiveness: Strengthening the current core enablers of our ecosystem to withstand global headwinds.
Pillar 2: Expanding and Enriching the Ecosystem: Identifying growth opportunities and securing the sector's future by designating Life Sciences as a national "Critical Entity".
Pillar 3: Governance and Implementation: Advocating for a dedicated Office of Life Sciences to ensure the strategy is effectively delivered across government.
The NLSS offers a unique opportunity to create a fully interconnected and strategically aligned ecosystem. By fostering greater collaboration between government, industry, academia, and the health system, Ireland can leverage its world-class reputation and highly skilled workforce. This unified commitment to advancing the life sciences sector will not only safeguard current economic success but also ensure continued prosperity and improved health outcomes for all citizens.
