Irish Medtech Skillnet Launches Two Landmark Publications Showcasing Innovation and Leadership in Ireland’s Medtech Sector

Irish Medtech Skillnet, in partnership with Irish Medtech, the business group within Ibec representing the medical technology sector, today launched two strategic publications designed to equip Ireland’s medtech sector with the insights, skills, and leadership needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

The event brought together senior leaders, innovators, and educators from across the ecosystem to explore the future of talent, upstream innovation, and high-performing teams. It marked a pivotal moment for the sector, with the launch of:

• Talent to Thrive – Powering Excellence: The Irish Medtech Skillnet Strategy 2026–2028, a practical roadmap for workforce development, programme innovation, and market competitiveness.
• Moving Upstream – Disease Prevention as a Strategic Opportunity for Irish Medtech Innovation, a research-led publication highlighting the economic and health value of upstream investment.

In this new statement of strategy, Talent to Thrive – Powering Excellence, Irish Medtech Skillnet sets out a clear vision for how to meet the evolving skills challenges facing Ireland's Medtech sector. The strategy underlines how critical access to talent will be over the years ahead and is an ambitious roadmap to develop a future-ready workforce that will help reinforce Ireland’s position as a leading destination for global investment and talent.

Speaking at the launch, Ann O’Connell, Head of Funded Projects for Medtech and Engineering at Ibec and Network Manager for Irish Medtech Skillnet, said:

“These publications are a direct response to the needs of our industry. They reflect the ambition, collaboration, and strategic foresight that define Ireland’s medtech sector. Our focus is to empower leaders and organisations to not only adapt but to lead with clarity, purpose, and innovation.

“Moving Upstream exemplifies our commitment to industry-led insights informed by research and stakeholder consultation. It helps identify emerging skills and anticipate global trends, ensuring Irish medtech companies are equipped to seize strategic opportunities and deliver innovation that matters. We would like to thank the report sponsors; CLI Global Society, Cook Medical, Irish Medtech and Versono Medical, for their support.”

Eoghan Ó Faoláin, Director of Irish Medtech, added:

“Talent remains the cornerstone of Ireland’s success as a global medtech hub. As technologies advance and global healthcare demands shift, the need for future-ready skills is more urgent than ever. Since 2008, the Irish Medtech Skillnet has been consistently delivering on this need - effectively meeting medtech companies’ talent development requirements and building organisational capabilities. The new Irish Medtech Skillnet strategy launched today, developed following careful stakeholder analysis, provides a roadmap for developing the talent and strategic foresight that Ireland’s medtech sector needs to ensure Ireland remains the best place in the world to innovate, invest, and grow in medtech.

Mark Jordan, CEO of Skillnet Ireland, commented:

“The medtech sector is a cornerstone of Ireland’s knowledge economy. Irish Medtech Skillnet exemplifies how Skillnet Ireland Business Networks can drive national impact through industry collaboration, leadership development, and innovation-focused learning. These new publications underscore our shared commitment to equipping the workforce with the skills to lead the next wave of technological and clinical breakthroughs.”

The launch event featured a powerful keynote from Evelyn O’Toole, CEO and Founder of Complete Laboratory Solutions, whose session focused on transformational leadership and the role of industry-led learning in driving real-world impact. Equally compelling was the contribution of John Kiely, Manager of the Limerick Senior Hurling Team and former principal of The Abbey School, who shared his perspective on building high-performing teams and sustaining excellence through purpose-driven leadership.

International insights were brought by Dr. Sandra Zimmerman, whose work in Germany is shaping the future of medtech innovation through upstream thinking and cross-sector collaboration.

Panel discussions included contributions from Kevin O’Keeffe, Senior Director of Operations and Site Lead at Stryker and Finbar Dolan, Founder & CEO of Versono Medical, who explored the evolving skills landscape and the operational strategies needed to stay competitive.

Learn more about the event and download reports at https://www.talent-to-thrive.ie/