i360medical in strategic deal with top US research institutes


20 Sep 2011

Ireland’s i360medical, formerly the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Center for Innovation in Surgical Technology (RCSI-CIST), is about to sign a memo of understanding (MOU) with three premier US universities and one major US innovation hub.

The announcement came as part of this week’s Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the southern United States led by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, TD.

The new partner institutions include Duke University, the University of Miami, the University of North Carolina and Synecor.

“Collectively, these three universities and Synecor innovation hub house today’s scientific thought leaders and their research labs have produced some of the world’s most enduring surgical technologies,” said Derek Young, head of i360medical.

“It’s exciting to join forces with them as we jointly identify and develop a life-cycle plan for the breakthrough technologies of tomorrow.”

i360medical drives healthcare device innovation by catalysing collaborations throughout the life-science ecosystem to bring promising products from concept to global markets.

The new partnerships expand i360medical’s existing US footprint, which includes relationships with the Cleveland Clinic, Covidien, and the Mayo Clinic.

A step-change for export performance

“For too long we have failed to build the levels of export market penetration we need, and I am determined that government will do everything possible to help our exporters to achieve a step change in that performance,” Bruton said.

“Life sciences is an area where Ireland has strengths that are the envy of many countries, in particular, our established base of world-leading multinationals. Today’s announcement will drive innovation in Ireland’s medical devices sector and help promote Ireland’s global reputation for innovation in Irish life sciences supporting the indigenous employment growth we so badly need.”