The University of Galway and Medtronic have announced a new €5 million partnership aimed at fostering innovation.
The five year signature partnership will be focused on three pillars: developing the MedTech ecosystem, STEM and research.
Medtronic’s investment will enable significant expansion of the University’s MedTech ecosystem and progress its current range of STEM programmes, and offer access to early-stage seed funding for new collaborative research projects.
President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said, “At University of Galway, we are deeply conscious of our role and work for the public good and we are delighted that the focus which we place on that has helped us to develop such a strong and committed relationship with Medtronic.”
“This landmark partnership that is being announced today is a fitting complement to our values, which we live and work by, respect for patients, excellence in everything we do, openness in and for the world, sustaining the next generation.”
“We welcome the opportunity to expand our relationship with Medtronic as we pursue learning, research and innovation with a commitment to making a difference locally and globally.”
The partnership will also support the establishment of two new research institutes at University of Galway.
The first being the new Institute for Clinical Trials, which was launched in May 2023. The second, still in development, will focus on medical technologies and advanced therapeutics.
These institutes, and support from this partnership, will focus on research intended to support and expand Galway’s role as a global Medtech hub.
Geoff Martha, Medtronic Chairman and CEO said, “We hope that this investment with University of Galway in Ireland’s workforce, research, community, and education will pave the way for long-term, meaningful effects on patient outcomes and economic growth.”
“Medtronic has a wealth of technologies at our disposal, but we can’t do it alone – a highly-educated and skilled workforce is critical to pioneering the treatments of tomorrow.”
“Graduates of University of Galway play an important role in many facets of Medtronic’s operations, and I’m certain that students involved in this partnership will go on to create life-transforming advancements in healthcare technology.”
The partnership was announced at a special event at National University of Ireland in Dublin, which was also attended by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris.
Minister Harris said that this “ambitious, five-year, campus-wide partnership” will deepen the existing collaboration between the University and Medtronic, and help launch “bold new initiatives” with wide-ranging benefits.
“Ireland’s place at the vanguard of healthcare technology development is secured by investing in the next generation of talent, in tandem with collaborations like this that bring industry, clinicians and academics together to pioneer treatments of the future.”
