Eleven life sciences businesses from Greater Manchester and Liverpool City region joined a joint Mayoral Trade Mission to Ireland this week.
The Irish health care sector has undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by a combination of policy reforms, increased investment in health infrastructure, and a growing emphasis on digital health solutions.
The visit was a response to these dynamic changes within the Irish health care system, with businesses gaining first-hand insights into the Irish market, and identifying tangible opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and expansion.
The trade mission was led by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram. They were joined by a delegation of eight life sciences businesses from Greater Manchester, and three businesses from Liverpool City Region.
The businesses were selected by GM Business Growth Hub, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to represent the growing life sciences sector in the North of England.
During the mission the businesses took part in visits to the health innovation hub at St James’s Hospital and University College Dublin’s innovation hub NovaUCD – alongside events at the British Embassy and Glencairn House, the UK Ambassador to Ireland’s residence.
Businesses attending include MolMart, a Manchester-based company that provides genetic testing to help prospective parents make informed decisions about their risk of passing a serious genetic condition to their children and Alderley Lighthouse Labs, an accredited lab providing comprehensive laboratory testing services.
“We joined this trade mission to understand better the needs and landscape of the Irish healthcare market and to identify potential opportunities for collaboration,” said Dr Markella Mikkelsen, CEO and founder of MolMart.
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Mark Wigglesworth, chief executive of Alderley Lighthouse Labs, added: “We are confident that MolMart’s mission to empower future parents to plan for healthier families will strongly resonate with the Irish market.
“I joined the trade mission to share the broad diagnostic capabilities available at Alderley Lighthouse Labs. The way healthcare is changing in Ireland presents an opportunity for private laboratories to work with the health authorities in a different way and I’m looking forward to the opportunities that we have developed on the mission.”
Janine Smith, director of GM Business Growth Hub said: “Life sciences is a vital sector for the UK, but especially in Greater Manchester. It’s an area that has so much room to grow, and the opportunities domestically and internationally are really exciting.
“Our businesses in Greater Manchester are best placed to make the most of these, and we’re looking forward to what this mission means for the businesses, our local economies and trading partners in Ireland.”