MSD Ireland, Innovation in Action: Driving R&D excellence for the future of healthcare
The MSD site in Dundalk, Co Louth. MSD’s acquisition of the WuXi Vaccines Dundalk site in January 2025 strengthens the company’s long-standing commitment to Ireland, and brings its footprint to eight locations nationwide with over 3,000 currently employed across the country.
, Managing Director, MSD Ireland Human Health, outlines how the company leverages Ireland's talent, creativity and its uniquely dynamic workforce
At MSD Ireland, we’re entering a chapter of unprecedented growth and innovation. Across all of our sites around the country, our shared commitment to invention, innovation, research and development is the cornerstone of our mission to deliver cutting-edge healthcare solutions to patients across Ireland and beyond.
Over the past years, MSD Ireland has invested heavily in patient-focused innovation, underscoring our dedication to advancing healthcare by growing our footprint, expanding our sites, and as recently as last month announcing the acquisition of a new site in Dundalk, Co Louth.
With over 3,000 employees across our inter-connected network, there is a shared focus on contributing to our purpose to use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.
The healthcare landscape is continually evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities. As a leading pharmaceutical company, we recognise our vital role in anticipating and responding to these changes. Our robust R&D pipeline is designed to address a wide range of therapeutic areas, ensuring that we are prepared to meet the diverse needs of patients.
Through this continued investment and innovation, we’re proud to drive an ongoing expansion of our footprint across Ireland, always furthering our capabilities both when it comes to manufacturing and research, adapting and enhancing our sites to lead the future of our industry.
This has included the development of bespoke research and acceleration facilities honed from several locations and hubs across different sites — from MSD Dunboyne in Co Meath to MSD Ballydine in Co Tipperary, all our teams are working together to invent what’s next.
Thus, by fostering close collaboration between our research and manufacturing teams, we can accelerate the development of life-saving therapies and ensure they reach patients more efficiently.
This commitment to innovation extends well beyond our own operations. Leveraging all that Ireland has to offer when it comes to talent, creativity, and a uniquely dynamic workforce, we’re working closely with academic institutions around the country to ensure we’re not just preparing our facilities for the future, but our people too.
Leveraging cutting-edge technologies in AI, automation and digitalisation, but most importantly looking ahead to find new usages, new tools, and new pathways for innovation.
It’s an exciting space, collaborating to understand skills for jobs that don’t exist yet — and one we’re proud to be driving in close collaboration with partners. By sharing knowledge and resources, we aim to drive advancements that benefit the entire healthcare ecosystem.
As we look to the future, MSD remains steadfast in our mission to bring innovative medicines and vaccines to patients who need them. We are committed to building on our legacy of excellence, embracing new technologies, and forging partnerships that enhance our ability to serve patients — always from MSD Ireland to the world.
