Boston Scientific has been in Galway for more than 20 years. Image: Rihardzz/Shutterstock
Medical device company Boston Scientific is investing big in Galway, after more than 20 years in the city.
US medtech company Boston Scientific is to invest €17m in a new Galway-based R&D facility that will specialise in endoscopy research.
The RoadRunner endoscopy design facility will host more than 300 international physicians every year to promote the development of metal stents for use in the bowel or biliary tract in gastrointestinal treatments.
Engineers at the facility will gather real time feedback from international clinicians.
Boston Scientific already operates the European Innovation Centre in the city. It has been in business for more than 20 years.
The facility produces more than 3m medical devices per year, and employs more than 3,000 people.
Collaboration between engineers and physicians
RoadRunner, which represents an ethos of collaboration between physicians and engineers, has already led to the development of two specialised enteral stents for the small intestine and the colon.
Boston Scientific will be investing the €17m in the new RoadRunner facility on a phased basis until 2020.
This initiative will reduce the time it takes to develop a medical device to just six months.
The new facility was launched yesterday (8 June) by the Minister for State for the Gaeltacht Sean Kyne, TD.
