Stryker to upskill 5,500 Irish workers through new centre of excellence

Programme developed with IDA Ireland

Limerick will be the first site in Styrker's nationwide Training Centre of Excellence rollout. Pictured at the nnouncement in Limerick were: Kevin O’Keeffe, Site Lead, Stryker Limerick; Maureen Timlin, IDA Ireland US Midwest Territory Manager, Medical Technologies Division; Michael Lohan, IDA Ireland chief executive, and Conor Tolan, Stryker Vice-President of Manufacturing for Joint Replacement. Picture: Don Moloney

Medical technology firm Stryker  is beginning a three-year training initiative to upskill its Irish workforce, the company announced on Monday.

Stryker has about 5,500 workers at eight sites in Ireland, with 4,000 of these based in Cork. It has five manufacturing facilities and three innovation centres across sites in Cork (Anngrove, Macroom, Model Farm Road, Springhill, and Tullagreen) and Limerick. Stryker’s Limerick facility manufactures devices for joint replacements, CMF, Spine and T&E across knees, oncology and bone cement portfolios.

Stryker is rolling out its Training Centre of Excellence model to sites nationwide, beginning with in Limerick, and the firm anticipates that the model will be extended to all Cork facilities by the end of 2025. The training programme has been developed with support from the IDA, and will look to train employees in areas including digital innovation, advanced automation, and sustainability. The programme will provide technical and functional training, including modules on lean manufacturing, digitalisation, sustainability practices, and the practical application of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in product development and operations.

“Making the Training Centre of Excellence model available to our sites around Ireland is a significant milestone on our journey to build a future-focused, agile workforce. These initiatives ensure that our teams are equipped with the tools and skills needed to help us succeed in a rapidly changing industry," said Stryker vice-president of manufacturing for joint replacement Conor Tolan.

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister Peter Burke TD, said the  announcement by Stryker marks "a significant milestone for workforce development in Ireland". "The expansion of the Training Centre of Excellence model to Limerick is a powerful endorsement of the region’s talent and strategic importance to the life sciences sector. This initiative will empower employees with future-ready skills in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing, ensuring Ireland remains at the forefront of global MedTech innovation," Mr Burke said.

“This is not just an investment in facilities; it is an investment in people and in Ireland’s future as a global leader in healthcare technology."

Stryker first established a presence in Ireland in 1998 with an initial team of 20 employees. Stryker is a global leader in medical technologies impacting more than 150m patients annually.