Invest NI showcases the thriving Life & Health Sciences ecosystem to IMEA buyers.

Northern Ireland is rapidly establishing itself as a global leader in the Life & Health Sciences (LHS) sector, driven by a unique blend of world-class research, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strong collaboration across industry, academia, and clinical practice. This thriving ecosystem has made Northern Ireland a prime destination for developing and commercialising innovative medical devices.

Recently, Invest Northern Ireland, the economic development agency of Northern Ireland, hosted 9 senior delegates from across India, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, UAE, Egypt and Morocco to showcase Northern Ireland’s cutting-edge advancements in the LHS sector. The delegation, comprising of hospital groups, distributors and influencers, met with companies and visited factories and research facilities in Northern Ireland. Over the 3 days, Invest NI showcased the breadth of the region’s offering in Diagnostics, Medical Equipment & Devices and Emerging Health Technologies and facilitated pitching sessions and insightful discussions with wider stakeholders from universities to industry bodies, giving the delegation a deeper understanding of the region’s capabilities. The visit highlighted Northern Ireland’s growing appeal as a hub for international collaboration and opened the door to partnerships and collaborations across countries.

Unlocking Innovation: Northern Ireland Expertise in Life and Health Sciences:

The following companies were highlighted during the visit, such as:

• Affect Ltd, is a consultancy supporting businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers with the design and development of physical products. With multiple products on a global scale - everything from Class 1 medical devices and children’s products to high-performance sports wearables and consumer goods.
• Axial3D , is a leader in providing scalable, automated solutions that transform DICOM images into actionable 3D data. Leveraging a robust portfolio of patented technologies powered by advanced machine learning algorithms and AI-assisted automation, Axial3D’s cloud-based platform, underpinned by fundamental market patents, serves as the catalyst for transitioning from one-off devices to patient-specific care.
• Atrom, is a Clinical Stock Management Solution enables healthcare providers to manage stock levels and to track the use of their critical clinical supplies. Accurate stock information and low stock alerting allow clinical teams to better manage stock levels, improve their stock ordering process and reduce the need to hold stock ‘just in case’.
• B-Secur , is committed to reducing preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease through advanced, clinically validated biosensing algorithms that enable early diagnosis and proactive health management.

• BioPanda, an ISO13485 certified company specialises in the design, development, manufacture and supply of in vitro test kits for clinical laboratories, drugs of abuse testing, veterinary practice, and food safety, both locally and globally.
• Blue Zinc, is a technology company in the health industry, specialising in improving, connecting and automating the musculoskeletal and talking therapies arenas.
• CIGA Healthcare Specialises in Rapid Test Diagnostics. Its wide range is sold in over 70 countries globally. The company is at the forefront of rapid diagnostic tests, including Pregnancy, Diabetes, and cholesterol. Every 5 seconds, someone benefits from its diagnostic tests, reinforcing its position in the industry.
• Cirdan Ltd , is a premier provider of pathology informatics and imaging solutions specialises in comprehensive laboratory solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of pathologists. dedicated to revolutionising clinical laboratory workflows?to expedite patient diagnosis.

• Clinical Translation Research & Innovation Centre C-TRIC . , is a state-of-the-art clinical research facility (CRF), and not-for-profit company based on the Altnagelvin Hospital site, C-TRIC is a regional asset that facilitates collaboration between universities and life and health science companies with the NHS, enabling clinical research aimed at improving patient care in the community, and aim to enhance clinical research by providing access to world-class facilities specialising in cutting-edge, high-throughput single-cell multiomics, which is essential for understanding complex diseases.

• Clonallon Laboratories Ltd, with its processes and Quality Management Systems accredited to ISO13485:2016 and MDD 93/42/EC; was incorporated in 2001 to manufacture bespoke, sterile procedure packs for the global healthcare market.
• Daytot, an innovative early intervention brand, developing life-enhancing products aimed at improving the developmental outcomes for babies with delayed development. Working with the best minds in the world, they collaborate through research & design, to unlock new insights and create ground-breaking products, to support babies in achieving milestones with comfort and purpose.
• Eakin Healthcare , manufacture and supply products to meet the needs of patients and clinicians within Ostomy & Wound, Respiratory and Surgical therapies, its innovative designs have positively impacted an estimated 7.5 million patients worldwide for anaesthesia and the resuscitation and respiratory support of 65,000 babies and 35,000 adults.

• Fortesium, is a specialist software business, offering off-the-shelf, customisable solutions to Regulators delivering better digital futures.
• Gran Lab specialises in making steroid-free, colour-inclusive formulations to treat the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema
• Haemoband Surgical specialises in the development and supply of Colorectal & Proctology products. Their primary device is the Haemoband-Plus device, the first multi-action, pre-loaded disposable ligator for the treatment of haemorrhoids. Offers a complete solution to clinicians & surgeons for the examination & treatment of Haemorrhoids.
• The Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) was established to strengthen the Life & Health Sciences ecosystem by maintaining a clear vision and strategic direction, and to act as a single voice for the sector with a focus on promoting Life and Health sciences capabilities in Northern Ireland.
• Neurovalens is a global health-tech company dedicated to addressing some of the world's greatest health challenges through innovative non-invasive neurostimulation products and has designed cranial nerve stimulation technology that accurately and efficiently activates key brainstem neurons without needing implanted electrodes.
• Seating Matters , set out to create clinical, therapeutic seating that would cater to the holistic needs of patients - providing comfort, postural support, pressure management and improving quality of life.

• Sonrai is the only multi-omic cloud AI solution designed for precision medicine. They developed a Bioinformatics Cloud product explicitly designed to work with precision medicine data,?alleviate pain points, and help succeed from early discovery through to clinical phases and beyond.
• TriMedika is an ISO 13485 accredited innovative medical technology company that provides the?most accurate clinical devices?for hospitals worldwide.
• TruCorp, a State-of-the-art Medical Training Equipment, leads the medical simulation market in providing realistic and durable training manikins, providing a wide range of anatomically correct airway management, emergency skill and surgical skill trainers.

LHS sector in Northern Ireland has seen a remarkable 75% growth over the past three years, making it the region’s fastest-growing industry. With over 250 businesses exporting to more than 140 countries, Northern Ireland’s innovative solutions are making a global impact. The region’s success is fuelled by its close integration between research institutions and the private sector, supported by 17 world-leading research centres and over 1,000 skilled researchers.

Northern Ireland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, known for precision and zero-deficit standards, make it an ideal location for producing a wide range of medical devices, from neuro-stimulation products to neonatal care equipment. This manufacturing excellence, combined with the region’s strategic location offering dual market access to both the EU and Great Britain, further strengthens its position as a key player in the global life sciences arena. Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, exemplifies this dynamic growth. As one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech cities, it is a hub for innovation, particularly in MedTech.

Unlocking the Potential for Future Success:

The visit significantly boosted Northern Ireland's brand visibility, raised awareness and influence in the IMEA markets. It proves that Northern Ireland's LHS sector is a thriving industry and a collaborative and innovative ecosystem that accelerates product development and drives global success. We look forward to building on this visit and continuing to foster international partnerships that benefit our local industries and boost external sales.

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