The advanced medtech industry of Ireland’s top innovators hailed as life-savers and game-changers at the recent 2024 Life Science Industry Awards. The event was a grand affair held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, entertaining almost 200 top professionals in the medical science field. The affair was lightened up by popular comedian and podcast host, Jarlath Regan.
The significance of this sector to the country’s health and economic stability is highly significant. According to IDA Ireland, the humble beginnings of Ireland’s life sciences industry stemmed from the small molecule sector, which continued to evolve and strengthen. Currently, the most significant growth is observed in advanced therapeutic advancements like mRNA, gene and cell technologies. Approximately three-fourths of the medical technology companies in Ireland are now investing in local R&D.
Ireland is a hub to most top global pharmaceutical and medical technology firms, housing nine out of top 10 pharmaceutical companies and 14 of the top 15 biggest medical technology companies. Over 300 companies, employing about 40,000 people, are currently operating in Ireland. Annual medical technology exports from Ireland rack up to over €13 billion, making up 8 per cent of the nation’s total exports.
The Life Science Industry Awards, which was established just last year by the progressive events planner, Business River, highlights the wide range of expertise within the industry. They recognise excellence in innovation, sustainability, engineering, digital transition, and operations across all levels, from the lab to the supply chain. Not merely individual accomplishments, but team efforts, companies of varied sizes, strategic alliances, and health and safety initiatives also find a place in the spotlight.
Janssen Sciences Ireland was recognised as the leading light this year, winning the life sciences company of the year (large) award, the digital makeover award and the overall excellence in life sciences accolade. The panel of judges commended Janssen Sciences Ireland, stating their sincere commitment to patient care, eco sustainability, and originality was apparent. The company’s large-scale expansion plans and successful digital transformation efforts were recognised as hallmarks of their dedication to excellence in the life sciences sector, setting a high benchmark for the forthcoming year.
Paul O’Hare, the managing director of Ellab Ireland, a platinum sponsor of the 2024 awards, stated that the company was thrilled to back the Life Science Industry accolades. He highlighted the company’s 75-year heritage and underpinned its recognition for innovation and excellence in its support for the life sciences sector, a mainstay of the Irish commercial landscape. This backing both encourages forward-thinking and acknowledges superior performance in this critical arena.
A special achievement accolade saw its way to Marie Martin, technical product chief, with principal responsibilities in the large molecule and vaccine domains at MSD, a biopharmaceutical firm that strives to be at the forefront of research-intensive enterprises.
The panel’s motivation outlined during the awarding centred on Martin’s career-long identification of growth and development potential within staff, curating academic-industry cooperation for syllabus development that meets industry requisites, and being a staunch proponent for diversity, fairness, and inclusivity.
Judges also highlighted her advancement of these ideals within her organisations, which birthed a decrease in gender pay disparity and established equal staffing throughout all organisational tiers, as well as the engendering diverse team thinking. Current duties include rendering strategic support to large molecules and vaccines and steering the commercial introduction of products in the pipeline.
Unispace Life Sciences, another platinum backer, eagerly anticipates this event each year as an opportunity to revel in the triumphs of both the clients and themselves. Roy Fahy, operations director, heralded the event as their moment to express gratitude and lend support to all contributors to the industry. It is an event that recognises the innovation, dedication and exertion of all participants. Unispace continually welcomes the chance to commemorate the successes of their esteemed customers.
The awards were affirmatively inclusive of women with a panel coordinator observing high female representation in leadership roles, and the event cherishing the chance to acknowledge these remarkable contributors. The accolade for women in life science was conferred to Dr Dara Meldrum, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, and the creative force behind Vertigenius, a medical device providing solace to patients grappling with vertigo, instability and dizziness.
The panel commended Dr Dara Meldrum for her outstanding academic prowess, successful professional career and evident entrepreneurial spirit. As a co-founder, she took on the mantle of running a cutting-edge project. Her influential utilisation of technology to enhance the results of vestibular patient’s rehabilitation underscores her considerably positive trajectory. This in turn has the potential to motivate other females in the field of science, making her a truly deserved victor.
Dr Meldrum’s receipt of the award for Woman in Life Sciences 2024 was celebrated by Patrick Schoeman, the Chief Commercial Officer at Vertigenius. He emphasised that the firm immensely values her uncompromising commitment towards transforming the strategies used to treat imbalance and vertigo.
Despite no firm being declared a loser at the Life Science Industry Awards, winners cannot exist without competitors. Nelipak Laboratory Services was amongst the contenders for the Life Sciences Team of the Year and the Laboratory Excellence Award. Describing their nomination as an acknowledgement of their dedication towards transportation, stability and sample testing, Mark Kelada, a laboratory manager, is keen on repeating the experience the following year.
The judging process for the 2024 awards was challenging due to the significant increase in entries and the varied range of candidate companies, from well-established multinationals to relatively new, yet inventive startups within the life science space.
Eamon Judge, the past president of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering Ireland Affiliate (ISPE) played the role of judging coordinator and commended all candidate organisations. Representing the Life Science Awards 2024, he particularly noted their innovative flare and commitment towards operational standards.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Judge maintained that through their successful cooperation with state research institutions, Irish businesses, although small, were effectively stimulating innovation. Furthermore, he expressed hope for improved sustainability due to its increasing adoption in companies’ operational standards and leadership agendas.
The powerful influence of businesses was emphasised by Judge, who pointed out the significant effect the local Irish life sciences sector has on a global scale. These homegrown products are being incorporated worldwide, generating optimism among patients. Almost all potential recipients of the awards are using digital change to speed up the provision of life science solutions to the final customer in a cost-effective manner.
Kevin O’Driscoll, who manages partnership programmes for Business River, the award organiser, expressed his gratitude to the sponsors and professional partners of 2024. He named ISPE Ireland Affiliate, Unispace Life Sciences, Ellab, Controlled Environments Company, and Cundall among them. He acknowledged their financial backing of the awards as a sign of their dedication and aid to this critical business area.
The judging panel consisted of several renowned individuals including Eamon Judge, a retired executive director from Eli Lilly and Company, Ruth Callanan from Medtronic, John Crumlish of Beaumont Hospital and Siobhán Dean, the assistant director at BioPharmaChem Ireland among others. Esteemed professionals from Enterprise Ireland, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Cork and independent consultants also made part of this panel.
The winners’ list was topped by Janssen Sciences Ireland, who clinched the award for overall excellence in life sciences, supported by Unispace Life Sciences. The outstanding contribution award was handed to Marie Martin while the women in life sciences award also found a deserving recipient.
For the category of ‘Life Sciences Individual of the Year’, the award was bestowed upon Vertigenius’ Dr Dara Meldrum. The ‘Life Sciences Team of the Year’ accolade, supported by Ellab, was claimed by the Pfizer Smart Factory Technology team.
‘Life Sciences Organisation of the Year’ was split into three categories: large, medium and small. Janssen Sciences Ireland was acknowledged as the best large company, an achievement sponsored by Ellab, whereas the medium-sized company award went to Arrotek Medical, thanks to support from Unispace Life Sciences. The victor for the small company category was Neurovalens.
The ‘Innovation of the Year’ award went to Deciphex for their AI-based Colorectal Screening technology. In terms of the ‘Best Strategic Partnership’, PTC Therapeutics was recognised for maintaining an Outstanding Supply Chain Partnership. Furthermore, the sustainability award, sponsored by Cundall, was presented to the Astellas Kerry Plant.
For the best ‘Engineering Project or Facilty’, the award went to WuXi Biologics Ireland, while Merck took home the award for ‘Operational Excellence’. Janssen Sciences Ireland earned the ‘Digital Transformation Award’, displaying a double win for the company, while the ‘Product Impact Award’ was won by Deciphex for their Diagnexia product.
‘Excellence in Health & Safety’, graciously supported by the Controlled Environments Company, was also awarded to Astellas Ireland’s Kerry Plant, symbolising another double win. The ‘Supply Chain Achievement Award’ was jointly rewarded to APC and VLE Therapeutics. Finally, the ‘Laboratory Excellence Award’, backed by Unispace Life Sciences, honoured the Vision 1 Laboratory from Teagasc.