Boston Scientific announces US88.5M R&D expansion in Galway to advance cardiovascular innovation

USA—Boston Scientific has announced plans to invest €75 million (US$88.5 million) to expand its research and development operations in Galway, Ireland, strengthening the site’s role as a global centre for cardiovascular innovation.

The investment, supported by the Irish government through IDA Ireland, will fund the development of purpose-built laboratories designed to support the design, development, and testing of next-generation cardiovascular technologies.

The expansion comes as Boston Scientific continues to record strong growth in its cardiovascular division, which has become one of the company’s key revenue drivers.

Focus on cardiovascular and emerging therapies

According to the company, the Galway expansion will support priority programmes across structural heart, cardiovascular, and endoscopy technologies.

In addition, the investment will strengthen research into emerging treatment areas such as heart failure and renal denervation, a minimally invasive therapy for uncontrolled hypertension.

Boston Scientific has recently intensified its focus on cardiovascular technologies, particularly pulsed-field ablation systems used to treat heart rhythm disorders.

The company’s FARAPULSE platform has continued to gain traction globally, while its Agent drug-coated balloon has also delivered strong commercial performance in recent quarters.

The Galway facility already manufactures a range of advanced medical devices, including drug-coated devices, vascular balloons, and heart and oesophageal stents used to treat cardiovascular disease, vascular disorders, stroke risks, and oesophageal cancer.

Lance Bates, executive vice president and president of Interventional Cardiology and Vascular Therapies at Boston Scientific, said the Galway site continues to play a major role in the company’s innovation strategy.

“We are seeing strong momentum across our cardiovascular business, and this investment reflects the important role the Galway site plays in that progress,” Bates said in a statement.

He added that the local workforce is delivering complex and collaborative projects that continue to advance patient-focused innovation.

Ireland strengthens position as MedTech hub

The expansion further reinforces Ireland’s growing reputation as a global medtech manufacturing and innovation hub.

Boston Scientific has operated in Ireland for more than 30 years and currently employs over 7,000 people across facilities in Galway, Cork, and Clonmel.

Irish officials welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of continued investment in research and development activities.

Hildegarde Naughton, Ireland’s Minister for Education and Youth, said the decision demonstrates confidence in Galway’s infrastructure, talent base, and innovation ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Rachel Shelly, Global Head of Life Sciences at IDA Ireland, noted that the investment strengthens Ireland’s leadership in medical technology innovation and reflects the long-standing partnership between the country and Boston Scientific.

The company clarified that the investment primarily aims to enhance the sophistication and scope of existing R&D operations in Galway rather than create a large number of new jobs.

The announcement follows Boston Scientific’s strong first-quarter 2026 financial performance, during which the company reported net sales of US$5.2 billion, an 11.6% year-over-year increase.

The company has also continued to highlight positive clinical data for its FARAPULSE pulsed-field ablation and WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure technologies, presented at recent scientific meetings.