The company has invested more than $12 million (€10 million) to date, with additional investment planned to advance R&D and strengthen sustainability initiatives. The new facility opening was carried out by Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Energy for Ireland, together with Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, the government’s foreign direct investment arm.
Siemens Healthineers said the state-of-the-art facility represents a significant long-term investment in Ireland’s medtech and life sciences sector. The company touts more than 100 years spent in Ireland, with the Swords facility opening marking the completion of a multi-year investment plan initiated in 2023.
(Learn more about Ireland’s medtech ecosystem here and read an interview about the company’s growing medtech prospects with IDA Ireland here.)
The new facility focuses on innovations in laboratory instruments that support the detection of infectious diseases, cancer and blood disorders.
Siemens Healthineers’ new R&D center is located in a newly purchased facility, adjacent to existing manufacturing operations. The company already reports more than 65 highly skilled engineering positions created at the site. Those roles span software engineering, hardware design, bioscience, data science, systems engineering and AI.
According to the company, the specialists work globally with R&D colleagues on next-generation instrument design. They leverage advanced digital manufacturing tools and automation technologies to meet the growing demand for high-volume, high-precision diagnostic testing.
The center continues to develop the Atellica family of instruments, its advanced immunoassay and chemistry analyzers. It designed them to deliver greater flexibility and efficiency in clinical laboratories worldwide. The systems enable faster turnaround times, higher throughput and improved precision.
In addition to the opening, Siemens Healthineers received a training and development grant from IDA Ireland. The grant supports a multi-million-Euro upskilling program over the next 3-5 years. It aims to enhance workforce capabilities across advanced engineering, operations and leadership.
Commentary from Siemens Healthineers and Irish government officials
Patrick Grimes, global head of hardware engineering R&D for Siemens Healthineers Diagnostics, said:
“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.”
Darragh O’Brien added:
“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 said:
“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.”
