Cook Medical Opens Innovation Center in Ireland

November 14, 2013—Cook Medical (Bloomington, IN) announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) Innovation Center at the company’s plant in Limerick, Ireland.

According to the company, the creation of the Innovation Center, together with the expansion of cleanrooms, packaging, storage, and other facilities, represents an investment of €10 million by Cook Medical with the support of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland, the Irish government’s industrial development agency responsible for the attraction and development of foreign investment. This commitment to R&D and a growing product pipeline has increased staff by 100 over the past 2 years, with hopes for additional employment in the future.

Cook Medical’s Limerick site currently develops peripheral vascular, gastroenterology, and urology devices for global distribution. The Innovation Center is a dedicated space enabling the company to collaborate closely with physicians. Equipped with the latest technology to recreate and simulate clinical conditions, it will enable improved device testing and better product design outcomes.

Jan-Werner Poley, MD, who is Head of Endoscopy at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, commented in Cook’s press release, “Having been involved in the development of several Cook Medical endoscopy devices, I feel confident that I have the tools I really need. Cook’s R&D team helps me turn my ideas into reality. I am pleased that the brand-new Innovation Center will allow more physicians to cooperate with Cook in this way.”

Barry O’Leary, Chief Executive of IDA Ireland, added, “Cook Medical is one of the longest-established companies in the medical devices industry. Their products are sold in 135 countries across the world. Cook is a large employer in the Limerick region—they make a huge contribution to the local economy. Cook’s decision to continue to invest in Ireland is a clear endorsement of the country’s pro-business environment and of the quality of the staff available in Limerick. Cook’s investment will ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of research and development in new technologies and products in the medical device sector.”

Attending the opening ceremony, Richard Bruton TD, who is Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, commented, “Life sciences is a key sector targeted in our Action Plan for Jobs, and we have put in place a range of changes to support growth in this sector, such as the establishment of a Health Innovation Hub. Today’s announcement that Cook Medical is establishing a state-of-the-art innovation center in Limerick with an investment of €10 million is a very welcome vote of confidence in the sector. I wish them every success and hope that, with the right supports from Government, we can see further growth in the future.”