Pharmaceutical centre - An exciting initiative

The launch of the Synthesis & Solid State Pharma-ceutical Centre (SSPC) at the University of Limerick is a particularly exciting development.

It is the consummation of an initiative established in 2007 to promote the collaboration of five universities and nine multinational pharmaceutical companies in order to bolster pharma manufacturing in this country.

The importance of that industry to Ireland can hardly be exaggerated. It already employs some 60,000 people here, and the industry accounts for €50m worth of exports. Eight of the world’s 10 largest pharmaceutical companies are already based in this country, and they manufacture six of the 10 most valuable commercial pharmaceutical products.