The biotechnology industry has found a natural home in Ireland, which has demonstrated its commitment to the development of the industry in the clearest possible ways. Ireland has created a highly structured supportive environment, particularly beneficial for indigenous companies, that provides the right conditions and the substantial resources necessary for encouraging strategic investment in innovation, research and development, business growth and commercial success, in this sector. Ireland is growing new indigenous biopharma biotechnology industry – examples of new bio companies include: Merrion Pharmaceuticals, Opsona, Trinity Biotech, Pharmatrin.

Irish Bio Pharma in the news…

Scientists attract €1m a week from European research fund

The Irish Times – Thursday, January 7, 2010
DICK AHLSTROM Science Editor

SCIENTISTS IN the Republic are winning research support worth about €1 million a week from the European Union’s research fund.

Irish applicants have so far received €152 million in funding over the past three years.

Details of the Republic’s performance in drawing funds from the EU’s current research budget, Framework Programme 7 (FP7), were announced yesterday by Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation Conor Lenihan.

The FP7 budget runs through 2013 and has €50 billion available to support research activity across the EU.

Interest in the fund from scientists based here has increased over the past year given reductions in the Government’s overall research budget.

Enterprise Ireland has also been trying to encourage more Irish applications for FP7 support. It does so via the FP7 National Support Office (www.fp7ireland.com), which has a national director and provides services to make it easier to apply for funding.

Read entire article at The Irish Times

Ireland Establishes Gastroenterology Base
Country Banks on Thematic Approach to Ensure Successful Cluster Development

Susan Aldridge, Ph.D. -12.1.09 (Vol. 29, No. 21) – GEN, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News

Ireland is giving new meaning to the concept of the biotech cluster by building one that has an important therapeutic theme. Gastroenterology Ireland seeks to bring together leading academics and gastrointestinal (GI)-focused drug discovery and development, drug delivery, and medical-device companies in an initiative being fostered by Enterprise Ireland.

“The work of the Irish gastroenterology community—medical, commercial, and  academic professionals based internationally and at home—is recognized globally,” says Elaine Brennan, svp biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for development and promotion of the country’s business sector. “We support collaborations between industry and academia in order to develop world-class technologies, and for the future growth of the Irish indigenous life science community.” read full article…