Siemens Healthineers opens USD10.8M R&D centre in Ireland to advance immunoassay technology

IRELAND—Siemens Healthineers has officially opened a new €10 million ($11.85 million) centre of excellence in Swords, Ireland, dedicated to advancing research and development for immunoassay instruments.

The facility marks a significant expansion of the company’s operations in the region, positioning Ireland as a key hub for medical diagnostics innovation.

Located near Siemens’ existing operations, the centre will concentrate on further developing the company’s Atellica advanced immunoassay and chemistry analyzers.

These sophisticated systems process bodily fluids, including blood and plasma, in laboratory settings, enabling disease diagnosis across multiple medical specialties such as cardiac care, oncology, and renal function assessment.

The Atellica platform has already established a strong presence in the United States, with more than 2,000 systems currently installed across the country.

The new Irish facility aims to accelerate innovation and bring next-generation diagnostic capabilities to hospitals and laboratories worldwide.

Strategic investment supported by Irish government

The centre’s launch represents the culmination of an investment initiative that Siemens Healthineers began in 2023 with backing from the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland, the government’s promotional arm.

The company has indicated that additional investments will follow in the coming years.

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, emphasized that the facility’s opening strengthens Ireland’s position as a global hub for innovation in diagnostics and life sciences.

The country has emerged as an attractive destination for medical technology companies seeking a skilled workforce and supportive business environment.

Patrick Grimes, global head of hardware engineering R&D for Siemens Healthineers Diagnostics, highlighted the site’s long-standing contribution to the medical field.

For nearly 60 years, this location has supplied high-quality diagnostic instruments to healthcare facilities worldwide.

By integrating research and development with production operations under one roof, the company expects to accelerate both discovery and delivery of new technologies.

Workforce development initiative addresses industry challenges

IDA Ireland has awarded Siemens Healthineers a training and development grant to support a multi-million-euro upskilling program over the next three to five years.

The initiative targets workforce enhancement across several critical areas, including advanced engineering, operations, and leadership development.

The program aims to equip employees with the capabilities needed to drive innovation and build sustainable careers in the medical technology and life sciences sector.

This investment in human capital addresses growing concerns within Ireland’s medical technology industry.

A report published in March 2025 by Irish Medtech revealed that 63 percent of survey respondents identified attracting and retaining quality workforce talent as a major challenge facing the sector.

Access to skilled professionals has become increasingly crucial as companies expand their operations and pursue more sophisticated technological development.

To tackle these workforce challenges alongside related issues such as labor costs and employee housing, Irish Medtech director Eoghan Ó Faoláin has called on the government to focus on four key pillars for sustained growth.

These recommendations include supporting apprenticeship programs to promote lifelong learning and advancing gender leadership throughout the medical technology sector.

Parent company plans strategic separation

In November 2025, Siemens announced plans to exit the healthcare space by deconsolidating its remaining stake in Siemens Healthineers.

The German technology conglomerate will transfer 30 percent of shares to Siemens shareholders through a direct spin-off, which it considers the preferable option for both organizations.

Siemens currently holds a 67 percent share stake in the Healthineers business.

The company stated that it reached this decision following a thorough assessment and strategic review examining how both entities could best realize their full potential, accelerate their respective transformations, and successfully tap into new growth areas.

Siemens has committed to providing an update on the transaction during the second quarter of 2026.

Following the announcement, Reuters reported that Siemens Healthineers CEO Bernd Montag indicated the company was considering an exit from its diagnostics division over the medium term, though no discussions with interested parties have materialized yet.

Financial performance and future outlook

In November 2025, Siemens Healthineers announced earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of just under €3.9 billion (USD 4.62 billion) for its fiscal year 2025.

The company projects revenue growth for fiscal year 2026 to fall between 5 and 6 per cent, signalling continued expansion despite the anticipated ownership changes.

The opening of the Swords facility demonstrates Siemens Healthineers’ commitment to maintaining its competitive edge in diagnostic technology development, even as corporate restructuring unfolds at the parent company level.