Stryker (NYSE: SYK) announced that it plans to bring a Training Centre of Excellence model to sites across Ireland, beginning in Limerick.
The company developed this model with the support of the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. It plans to extend the model to all of its facilities in Ireland by the end of 2025.
Stryker’s model includes a three-year training initiative to equip its employees with the agility and skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving work environment centered around digital innovation, advanced automation and sustainability. Upon completion of the extension, the company plans for its employees across eight Irish sites to benefit from upskilling and reskilling programs.
The orthopedic giant — one of the largest medtech companies in the world — says it ensures that its employees can lead through change and continue delivering life-changing healthcare solutions.
(MDO’s Medtech Big 100 Special Report that takes a deep look at the world’s 100 largest medical device companies, including Stryker. Go here for a free download.)
Stryker says its training center provides technical and functional training, including modules on lean manufacturing, digitalization, sustainability practices and the practical application of technologies like AI in product development and operations.
Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said the announcement marks “a powerful endorsement of the region’s talent and strategic importance to the life sciences sector.”
It marks the first step in a nationwide rollout after the successful launch of a training center at Stryker’s Tullagreen campus in 2024. Stryker first established its presence in Ireland in 1998 with a team of 20 employees. It now has five manufacturing facilities and three innovation centers in the country.
“Making the Training Centre of Excellence model available to our sites around Ireland is a significant milestone on our journey to build a future-focused, agile workforce,” Conor Tolan, VP of manufacturing for Joint Replacement at Stryker, said. “These initiatives ensure that our teams are equipped with the tools and skills needed to help us succeed in a rapidly changing industry.”
Stryker’s latest commitment to Ireland reflects an industry-wide trend — read more about medtech’s investment in Ireland in stories from 2022 and 2023.
“IDA Ireland is thrilled to support the rollout of Stryker’s Training Centre of Excellence model to additional sites in Ireland,” Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said. The initiative highlights Stryker’s forward-thinking approach to talent development and is a strong example of how MedTech companies are embracing workforce transformation to stay ahead of industry change. The extension of the model demonstrates the strength of Ireland’s innovative ecosystem, and we are proud to partner with Stryker once again on this transformative initiative, which will have lasting benefits for employees, the communities within which they operate and the global healthcare ecosystem.”
