University of Galway has just launched a new Medical Device Prototype Hub, supported by medical device company Medtronic, which will see a major expansion of research and innovation links between the two.
The development of the facility, which launched yesterday (Wednesday ), is part of the five-year €5 million signature innovation partnership between Medtronic and the university, announced in 2023, which focuses on the three pillars of developing the MedTech ecosystem, STEM engagement and research.
“The launch of the Medical Device Prototype Hub at University of Galway marks a hugely significant milestone in our signature partnership with Medtronic but it also sends a strong message to all those in the sector and all those who are driving innovation – University of Galway is creating the ecosystem in which our partners in research and innovation can thrive,” said Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, at yesterday’s announcement. “We look forward to celebrating the breakthroughs and successes that this initiative enables.”
The Medical Device Prototype Hub forms part of the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation which was established in the university in 2024, as part of the signature innovation partnership. It will be further supported through collaborations with Government agencies and industry leaders.
According to Ronan Rogers, senior R&D director, Medtronic, the new Medical Device Prototype Hub represents an exciting next step in the long?standing partnership between Medtronic and University of Galway.
“Medtronic has deep roots in the west of Ireland, and this facility strengthens a shared commitment to advancing research, accelerating innovation, and developing the next generation of medical technologies,” Mr Rogers said. “We are proud to invest in an ecosystem that not only drives technological progress but also supports talent development. This hub will unlock new avenues for discovery and accelerate the path from promising ideas to real?world medical solutions for patients.”
The Medical Device Prototype Hub sits within University of Galway’s new Technology Services Directorate, which provides shared research infrastructure and technical expertise to underpin activities across both the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation and the Institute for Clinical Trials, established in 2024 and 2023 respectively.
The hub will be further enhanced through partnerships with Government agencies and industry leaders, creating a collaborative environment that supports translation, innovation, and regional growth in life sciences and medical technologies.
The development is part of an integrated ecosystem at University of Galway which aims to position Galway as the centre of Ireland’s global MedTech hub, and the university as integral to research for the public good on the world stage.
“The Technology Services Directorate brings together key research facilities that support fundamental research at University of Galway,” said Aoife Duffy, director of the university’s Technology Services Directorate. “It aims to advance our research excellence by bringing together state-of-the-art core facilities and making strategic decisions on infrastructure and investment. The new prototype hub significantly enhances the innovation pathway available for the university research community and wider, and we look forward to working with Medtronic on this partnership”.
The Medical Device Prototype Hub has expert staff to facilitate concept creation, development and manufacturing of innovative medical device prototypes. The team offers a comprehensive suite of services to support early-stage medical device innovation, including both virtual and physical prototyping, enabling rapid design iteration through Computer Aided Design, modelling and simulation.
The hub also provides a full service, one-stop, solution for 3D printing needs, which includes a host of expert-led design, printing and consultancy and is equipped with state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technologies for validation of prototypes.
Professor Ted Vaughan, director of Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation (IHDI ), said the new hub will serve as a core facility, providing the engineering infrastructure and expertise to design, build and test new devices. “It adds to the vibrant healthtech and medtech ecosystem in the west of Ireland and provides fertile ground to drive its growth,” he said.
“Our vision is to make sure we have the best possible conditions for the R&D of new technologies for healthcare. Our aim is to address remaining gaps in the development pipeline, from discovery to innovation.”
