Investments of €45.5 million in RD&I and Green Technology by four leading companies

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan TD today (14th December, 2009) announced that 4 companies in Ireland in a diversity of sectors are investing a total of €45.5 million, which will create 26 new jobs, in a range of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) and Green Technology initiatives at their existing operations. The investments are supported by Government through IDA Ireland and will significantly enhance the level of RD&I and Green Technology capabilities at the Irish operations.

The Tánaiste said “Ireland’s commitment to RD&I, particularly through the driving forces of the Government and IDA Ireland, has established the country’s international reputation as a successful European location for such high-value initiatives. This has resulted in an increasing number of international companies locating strategic RD&I initiatives in Ireland in 2009 – these latest investments by Wexport, Merit Medical and Sanmina-SCI are excellent examples of this. I congratulate the companies involved on winning these investments for their existing Irish operations, particularly as they will assist in further deepening their role in their parent companies global business.” 

Commenting on the Green Technology investment by Baxter Healthcare, The Tánaiste said, ‘Ireland is leading the field in the emerging Green Technology Sector, supported by our ability to yield renewable energy from a variety of natural resources. This investment by Baxter Healthcare is in keeping with the Irish Government’s environmental and energy policies which aim to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy consumption.’

The Tánaiste continued by giving a brief outline of each of the companies involved in today’s announcement.

RD&I Announcements
Wexport Ltd., part of the LEO Pharma Group is to immediately invest €10 million, with plans for a further €10 million at a later date, at its site in Little Island, Cork. It involves the establishment of a Research and Development Centre in Bioprocessing technology in addition to a doubling of production capacity. 

Merit Medical Systems, Inc., which produces proprietary disposable medical devices for use in interventional and diagnostic procedures in hospitals worldwide, is to invest over €20 million at its Galway facility for Research and Development of a new product and to extend the range of a number of existing products.

Sanmina-SCI Corporation, a global electronics design and manufacturing services provider, is to invest €10 million in its operation in Fermoy, Co. Cork, for the expansion of its R&D into higher value activities.

Green Technology
Baxter Healthcare SA is to invest €5.5 million in installing and commissioning a 3MW Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP) in Castlebar, Co. Mayo over the next two years. The CHP plant will consist of two gas fuelled CHP units, capable of generating 3MW of energy, allowing the company generate 75% of its annual energy requirements at a significantly lower cost.


For further information:
IDA Ireland –
Gillian Lawless,
Press & PR,
Tel : 01-6034190 
gillian.lawless@ida.ie