Siemens Healthineers has officially opened its new Centre of Excellence for Immunoassay Instrument Research & Development in Swords, Ireland. The inauguration was conducted by Darragh O’Brien, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment, and Energy, alongside Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland. With an investment exceeding €10 million and further funding anticipated, the facility underscores a commitment to advancing R&D and bolstering sustainability initiatives.
This state-of-the-art centre marks a substantial long-term investment in Ireland’s medtech and life sciences sector, dedicated to pioneering innovations in laboratory instruments for detecting infectious diseases, cancer, and blood disorders. This milestone completes a multi-year investment plan initiated in 2023, supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Situated in a newly acquired facility adjacent to existing manufacturing operations, the centre has already created over 65 highly skilled engineering roles in software engineering, hardware design, bioscience, data science, systems engineering, and artificial intelligence. These experts collaborate globally with R&D colleagues on next-generation instrument design, utilising advanced digital manufacturing tools and automation technologies to meet the increasing global demand for high-volume, high-precision diagnostic testing.
Central to the centre’s mission is the ongoing development of the Atellica family of instruments — advanced immunoassay and chemistry analysers that enhance flexibility and efficiency in clinical laboratories worldwide. These systems offer faster turnaround times, higher throughput, and improved precision for tests that diagnose a broad spectrum of medical conditions. The teams at Swords are dedicated to advancing diagnostic performance by exploring new methods to optimise speed, accuracy, resilience, and adaptability across the Atellica portfolio.
In addition to its R&D focus, Siemens Healthineers has received a training and development grant from IDA Ireland to support a multi-million euro upskilling programme over the next three to five years. This initiative aims to enhance workforce capabilities in advanced engineering, operations, and leadership, ensuring employees are equipped to drive innovation and sustain careers in the medtech and life sciences sector.
Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment, remarked, “I am delighted to join Siemens Healthineers in unveiling this state-of-the-art R&D centre. The innovations and products developed here in Ireland will have a truly global reach, reflecting the strong culture of collaboration between industry, research, and talent that we are proud to support.”
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, stated, “The completion of this new Centre of Excellence in Swords by Siemens Healthineers marks a significant milestone for Ireland’s medtech sector. This state-of-the-art facility reinforces our position as a global hub for innovation in diagnostics and life sciences. IDA Ireland is proud to support this strategic investment, which brings high-value employment and cutting-edge research to the region, while strengthening Ireland’s reputation for excellence in advanced manufacturing and R&D.”
Patrick Grimes, global head of hardware engineering R&D for Siemens Healthineers Swords, added, “For nearly 60 years, this site has delivered world-class diagnostic instruments to hospitals and laboratories globally. Now, by aligning research and development with production under one roof, we are accelerating the pace of discovery and delivery. This centre is a symbol of our commitment to shaping the future of diagnostics where science, technology, and human ingenuity come together to improve lives globally.”
