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In recent years, with the rapid development of the Irish pharmaceutical industry, it has become one of the key engines of the country's economic growth. Nine of the world's top ten biopharmaceutical companies have established their European R&D headquarters in Ireland, and in 2012, the country's annual pharmaceutical export value reached as high as 55 billion euros. With the robust growth of the pharmaceutical sector, Ireland has set its sights on China, hoping to secure a foothold in the vast Chinese market.
As a small green nation on the edge of Europe, Ireland has become one of the most favored countries for the global pharmaceutical industry due to its emphasis on basic research and innovative R&D, combined with a large, highly educated workforce. Barry Heavey, Head of Life Sciences at IDA Ireland, stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters that the entire Irish biopharmaceutical industry is not only committed to developing new products but also values innovation throughout the entire production process, as the world's best pharmaceutical products must be produced under extremely stringent conditions.
Heavey believes that the reputation of Irish pharmaceutical products in terms of R&D and manufacturing is second to none. He said: “We have a very strong regulatory system, and local pharmaceutical companies truly identify with this system because it provides many guidance and safety measures for them. The Irish pharmaceutical industry can draw excellent graduates in engineering and science from local universities. I believe that local pharmaceutical companies already possess unique advantages in development and manufacturing.”
Heavey noted that as ties between Ireland and China become increasingly close, the future development of the Irish pharmaceutical industry will gain more room for growth. He said: “In the past, IDA Ireland viewed the US and European markets as the primary sources of foreign direct investment in the pharmaceutical sector. Now, many pharmaceutical companies in Ireland are sourcing active pharmaceutical ingredients from China. China will become an important part of our future development blueprint. This is also the current strategic goal in this field. We will spend more time in the future expanding the Chinese market, engaging in more exchanges and cooperation with Chinese counterparts, and striving to find more investment opportunities from China.”
Killian O'Driscoll, Director of Projects at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Ireland, said that R&D is a key element in the development of the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry is a technology-based sector, and all new products are highly dependent on R&D, so having a strong international R&D department is crucial.
O'Driscoll stated that currently, the interaction and development between Ireland and China are of increasing significance. “China is clearly a very large market, and their capabilities in biopharmaceutical production are becoming increasingly powerful. Therefore, we have begun to maintain good cooperative relationships with an increasing number of Chinese partners, particularly from the perspectives of research, training, and education.”
Laurent Pola, General Manager of Arkopharma Ireland, believes that the reason the French company Arkopharma chose to invest in Ireland is that it is an English-speaking country, located within the Eurozone, possesses a well-educated and high-quality workforce, and has a relatively stable climate that is neither too hot nor too cold, which can significantly save on energy costs, making it a very suitable environment for pharmaceuticals.
Currently, the pharmaceutical industry alone directly employs 25,000 people in Ireland. With an outstanding regulatory system, a strong and transparent structure, and strong support from the Irish government, the pharmaceutical industry is expected to continue growing in Ireland. At the same time, China, with its vast market, will also play an important role in the future development of the pharmaceutical industry. As exchanges and cooperation between Ireland and China further increase, an era of mutual benefit for both countries in this field is arriving.