The Midlands region has a strong Life Sciences sector for over 40 years, with a number of the world’s leading Pharma, BioTech and Medical Device companies exporting to more than 160 countries globally. Our central location makes us an attractive location for enterprise with wider access to talent and strong connectivity to all coastal cities
Our central location is advantageous to business, education and social travel – typically within an hour journey time to or from Ireland’s neighbouring regions and major cities, ports and airports.
Within our own region, we have an educated workforce, which is easily supplemented from labour pools in neighbour areas and cities within a short commute.
Athlone, as the designated growth centre, and the principal towns of Longford, Mullingar, Tullamore and Portlaoise, together with local communities are working together to build a region-wide collaborative business environment.
The presence in the region of the Technological University of the Shannon brings a strong focus to Life Sciences. The University has been at the centre of the development of a leading Polymers sector in the region, bringing innovation, graduate talent, and a regional Polymer technology eco-system, which has attracted investment in the areas of MedTech and Medical Devices.
In the areas of Pharma and BioTech, the Technological University of the Shannon is also the only University in Ireland to have received Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS) accreditation, a quality mark awarded to their BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Sciences
With a strong base of existing business, and a network of regional supports, the Midlands is the place for Life Sciences.
With our Regional University, Technological University of the Shannon TUS, the Midlands has developed specialities in Polymer Engineering and Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Midlands region features a number of strong Industry Clusters, ready and able to support Life Science enterprises through a range of services and supports.
Our Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, ATIM Cluster, aims to create an advanced manufacturing Centre of Excellence in the Midlands, enabling regional enterprises to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0.
Our Midlands ICT Cluster, aims to be Europe’s leading ICT cluster in Digital Innovation, creating opportunities for people and business in regional growth sectors, driving knowledge creation, sustainability and resilience
The Midlands region is centrally located in the heart of Ireland, and is Ireland’s most connected region, bordering 5 of the 7 other regions in the country. The central location is serviced by a network of Motorways and Rail lines, meaning access to airports, coastal cities and ports are typically within an hour of the key regional urban centres.
Learn more about our region and key towns in our profiles below.
The Local Enterprise Offices are your local first-stop shop for seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in the Midlands.
Enterprise Ireland work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets.
As Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency, IDA Ireland are a non-commercial, semi-state body promoting foreign direct investment into Ireland.
