The Irish Medtech Association, the Ibec group that represents the medtech sector, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland announced tonight the winners of the Medtech Rising 2019: Irish Medtech Awards.
Irish Medtech Association Director Sinead Keogh said: “The Irish Medtech Awards are an important opportunity to bring the medtech community together and recognise the strength of the Irish medtech industry. We’re delighted to announce Alcon as the Medtech Company of the Year 2019. Alcon is the largest eye care company in the world which has had a base in Ireland 28 years. The world-class site in Cork manufacturers intraocular lenses, which are used to replace the eye’s natural lens after cataract surgery, the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the developed world. Since 2014 Alcon has been growing the site’s capability with a new technical team who developed a first-of-its-kind automated, pre-loaded lens delivery system which gets sight saving products to patients faster”.
General Manager of Alcon Ireland, Jackie Murphy said: “Alcon, the global leader in eye care with a 70-plus-year heritage, aspires to lead the world in innovating life-changing vision and eye care products. Since 1991, Alcon’s Cork, Ireland site has been a principal enabler in helping the company achieve this vision. We are both honoured and thrilled to receive this award, which is a much appreciated recognition of the commitment of all of our Cork associates who tirelessly work to make a difference in patients’ lives.”
Sinead Keogh added that, “We’re delighted for Cook Medical which won the Best Value of Medtech Campaign Award. This award recognizes companies that lead innovative initiatives to help improve the awareness of the lifechanging medical technologies they develop as part of the European ‘Value of Medtech’ campaign. Cook Medical hosted a special MedTech Showcase during European MedTech Week with volunteers proudly sharing with their families and the wider Limerick community the innovative solutions they develop in Ireland to serve patients across the world.”
Enterprise Ireland’s Manager of Lifesciences Deirdre Glenn said: “As many as four out five medtech companies in Ireland are start-ups or SMEs and it is vital we recognise their role in developing disruptive technologies. Urinary incontinence affects one in three women and one in ten men, and we’re proud to see the Enterprise Ireland-supported company Atlantic Therapeutics win the Emerging Medtech Company of the Year Award for its life-changing, non-invasive device which is being used across the globe to help people lead an active lifestyle. Another award that rewards innovation is the Academic Contribution to Medtech Award which was won by the Medical and Engineering Technology Gateway in Galway. The Technology Gateway Network is run by Enterprise Ireland in partnership with Institutes of Technology, successfully delivering expertise and solutions for industrial partners in a time scale that industry expects. The MET Gateway worked with Johnson & Johnson’s CERENOVUS, a global leader in neurovascular care, to further understand the dynamics of blood clots and blockages that cause strokes. It is another great example of clinical collaboration as MET worked closely with the neuro-interventional team in Beaumont hospital.”
IDA Ireland’s MedTech Department Manager Rachel Shelly said: “Ireland’s manufacturing industry is world renowned. One of the key elements which makes us a global success is the rich pool of world-class contract manufacturers. It’s terrific to acknowledge the success of Harmac Medical Products which won the MedTech Partner/Supplier of the Year Award. Harmac Medical Products is a leading contract manufacturing partner which has been operating in Castlerea since 1998. The company has gone from strength to strength due to its strong leadership team, agility, resilience and exemplary customer focus. The Irish medtech industry is also embracing opportunities in emerging sectors like connected and digital health. Syncrophi Systems won the eHealth Innovation of the Year Award for its medically-approved KEWS300 which can be used by nurses and doctors in hospital wards to enhance vital signs recording accuracy, to help reduce the length of stays in hospital and reduce the rates of unplanned escalation to ICU. Accurate, timely information that enhances patient care and streamlines healthcare operations are at the heart of connected health. Congratulations to the Syncrophi team.”
The full list of Medtech Rising 2019: Irish Medtech Awards winners is
• Medtech Company of the Year Award: Alcon
• Emerging Medtech Company of the Year Award: Atlantic Therapeutics
• Academic Contribution to Medtech Award: Enterprise Ireland Medical and Engineering Technology Gateway (MET)
• Medtech Partner/Supplier of the Year Award: Harmac Medical Products
• eHealth Innovation of the Year Award: Syncrophi Systems Ltd
• Best Value of Medtech Campaign Award: Cook Medical
• Outstanding Contribution to Medtech: Steripack Contract Manfacturing CEO Garry Moore
We would like to thank our event sponsors, Platinum Sponsors KPMG and Advant Medical; Gold Sponsors, Nelipak Healthcare Packaging, Teleflex, VistaMed Freudenberg Medical, Kuehne + Nagel, and SteriPack Contract Manufacturing; as well as Silver Sponsors, Creganna Medical part of TE Connectivity, Hanna Moore + Curley, IMS Marketing, Keltie, and Training Partners, the Irish Medtech Skillnet and Connected Health Skillnet, with Media Partner Medtech Strategist.