What skills will the Irish medical technology sector need in the future?

Ireland is expected to employ 56,000 people in the medical technology sector by 2028. What skills are urgently needed as the industry grows?

The Irish medical technology industry currently employs over 48,000 people, with the production of key medical equipment such as stents and joint replacements is developing dynamically in response to global trends of accelerated digitalization, Artificial Intelligence and sustainable development.

With the medical technology workforce in Ireland expected to grow to over 56,000 by 2028, it is important to consider how this workforce can be upskilled to meet the demands of a changing world.

Irish Medtech Skillnet in partnership with Skillnet Ireland and Irish Medtech commissioned KPMG to produce a report, Talent to Thrive: Future Skills for Ireland’s Health Technology Sector 2024-2028, to provide an assessment of future skills in the sector. The report lists 125 essential skills, of which 30 are considered priorities.

Priority skills include the use of artificial intelligence in data analysis and simulation, data visualization, knowledge of smart device regulations, microrobotics, human-centric production principles, cybersecurity expertise, and circular economy principles.

Targeted upskilling recommendations include using industrial doctorates to drive innovation, sustainability training, support for more internships and digitalisation courses for HR professionals. While general upskilling needs for the sector include leadership skills, commercial acumen, project management, problem-solving and communication skills.

The study gathered information from over 400 people working in the Irish medical technology sector, 100 people working in international medical technology centres, 35 interviews and five focus groups to gain critical insights into current and future talent development needs.

A special set of skills

The study identified five key areas where current and future skills needs can best be met: research, development and innovation (RD&I), manufacturing, sustainability, regulatory affairs and human resources (HR).

Individually, each area has proven to require a unique set of skills, as well as skills that overlap with other areas. For example, RD&I workers, as drivers of innovation in medtech, are largely responsible for creating medical technologies that improve and refine patient care.

The report therefore states that because professionals in this field are involved from the conceptual phase of an idea or product through to marketing, it is essential that they have the ability to collaborate both internally and externally.

RD&I workers will need to understand how products are manufactured at scale, as well as the regulatory processes that ensure safety. Additionally, their responsibilities may potentially overlap with sustainability, as they are part of a circular product design that will make items more environmentally friendly.

In addition, the ever-increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity means that cyber resilience and artificial intelligence are likely to generate significant demand for research, development and innovation skills in the future.

The report also found that the manufacturing sector, the largest employment source in the Irish health technology sector, requires significant upskilling in digitalisation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and is at a turning point, moving from manual to automation.

As the HR function becomes increasingly digital with the shift to remote and flexible work, HR professionals need to have the technical skills to communicate effectively and manage and manipulate an ever-increasing amount of data.

Transversal skills

Another important point of the report was the importance of transversal skills, i.e. interpersonal skills that are used in almost every job position or industry and are therefore crucial for current and future training programmes.

The study found that compared to global hubs, Ireland is not as focused on developing transversal skills for medtech professionals. A current need identified in the report was the development of problem-solving skills.

The HR function in particular considers the ability to assess and resolve workplace challenges as a priority for the smooth functioning of the organization. Similarly, regulatory affairs professionals, who are often expected to make decisions despite a lack of clarity, see problem-solving skills as crucial to the effectiveness of their own role.

The current skill set also lacks stakeholder management skills, most evident in HR, regulatory and RD&I roles. This is important because it is how professionals identify and build solid relationships with internal stakeholders, such as colleagues and other departments, as well as external stakeholders, including customers, regulators and suppliers.

The report found that project management skills are particularly important for the medical technology sector. More and more companies are expected to engage in sustainability activities, and project managers will need to be able to clearly explain environment, society and corporate governance project value.

International standards

The study found that the Irish medical technology sector is in good shape, leading the world. However, there are a number of areas where Ireland could improve, following the successes of other countries.

Take, for example, Germany’s approach to research, development and innovation in medical technology, which has been strengthened by upskilling and training opportunities, often offered online or at university training courses. These programs often include elements adjacent to the RD&I process, such as teamwork, cost recovery, and business skills, in order to build a comprehensive set of transversal skills as well as specialized knowledge.

Similarly, Ireland should look to Costa Rica, where the medical technology sector has grown to more than 30,000 people in the past 20 years, prompting development agencies to establish at least 40 training initiatives to support that growth. The report suggests the region has a flexible and responsive HR component that can adapt without sacrificing productivity. Costa Rica has partnered with the United States to develop processes and research.

Meanwhile, the UK offers a “robust range of short courses” for the sector, according to the report, with many experts hailing Cambridge University’s courses as the “gold standard” for sustainability professionals.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Padhraic McGinn, CEO and Chairman of Ireland’s Medtech business at Mergon Group, noted that Ireland, like all international hubs, is being driven by macro trends such as accelerated digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence.

“We are also seeing changing ways of working and an increasing focus on sustainability, which will impact not only the way the sector operates but also the way talent is developed,” McGinn said. “As a business leader, it’s worth noting that when it comes to cross-functional skills, problem-solving, leadership, and project management are in the greatest demand as business enablers.”

Dr Eoghan Ó Faoláin, director of Irish Medtech, said the Irish medtech sector needed to remain agile “as the international medtech landscape continues to change and evolve”.

O’ Faoláin said the growth in the R&D&I sector, particularly at 7% per year, underlines the need to equip workers with the necessary skills to enable the Irish medical technology sector to thrive “up the value chain to compete internationally.”

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