Ciara Finlay
Senior Executive, Irish Medtech
Ireland is a strong contender to become a global leader in digital health, and with the right strategies and meaningful collaboration across sectors, we’re one step closer.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was identified as a priority for 65% of respondents in a study by the Ibec Digital Health Working Group, with Amárach Research, as part of the ‘Where Digital Health Thrives’ campaign led by Irish Medtech, BioPharmaChem Ireland and Technology Ireland.
Ireland as a potential global digital health hub
Nearly 200 companies are working in digital health, with a burgeoning segment using AI. Unsurprisingly, data science and AI were identified by 70% as the top future skill to help realise the sector’s potential.
Our vision is to make Ireland a global hub for digital health, where companies develop and commercialise products and attract investments. In AI, we’re seeing robotics, diagnostics and workflow optimisation as growth areas.
Ireland is well-positioned as a testbed for developing and scaling digital health solutions, thanks to our ecosystem, which spans global leaders in medtech, biopharma, tech and digital health and a strong track record for partnering to deliver disruptive healthtech solutions.
As many as 82% of respondents plan on investing in the digitalisation of healthcare, but to reap the benefits, we need to bring stakeholders together to get ahead of technological and business trends and ensure that polices are fit-for-purpose.
Ireland is well-positioned as a testbed for developing and scaling digital health
solutions, thanks to our ecosystem, which spans global leaders in medtech, biopharma, tech and digital health
Healthcare digitalisation on the rise
Digital health is estimated to grow to €426 billion by 2027, and as many as 87% of leaders said that Government strategy was ‘very important’ or ‘important.’ This is why the National Life Science Strategy for Ireland, announced by the Government, has huge potential. Cross-industry input, alongside key opinion leaders, is essential to compete with the likes of France and the UK, which have made digital health a priority.
Right now, digital health companies are actively working with us and Skillnet Ireland on mapping a GenAI Use Case Roadmap for the sector, which will inform how AI will be both an enabler and a part of digital health solutions in the future.
By embracing new technologies, upskilling and implementing the right industrial policies, AI can both grow our economy and support better healthcare.
Read more about Ibec’s cross-sectoral ‘Where Digital Health Thrives’ campaign on https://www.ibec.ie/digitalhealth.
