Limerick firm Cooks up partnership with LIT

ENTERPRISE Minister Heather Humphreys was in Limerick this week to announce a new innovative partnership between LIT and medical device firms Cook Medical and VistaMed.

The Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) is partnering with Cook Medical, based at the National Technology Park in Plassey, for a partnership entitled ‘InCase’.

I​t will allow the third level institute work with Cook and VistaMed to develop their assembly process in line with the fourth industrial evolution.

Vice-president for research development and innovation at LIT Dr Liam Brown said: “We are delighted to work with Cook Medical and VistaMed on the project. Relationships between research, development, education and industry are key to the continuous industrial and economical development of the Mid West Region.”

“We believe that by supporting local industry though research and development, as well as educating our students to reach their full potential while meeting the requirements of local industry, we are playing an important role as an economic generator at the heart of Ireland’s fastest-growing regional economy.”

John Neilan, director of New Ventures, Cook Medical said: “We are a family-owned international medical device company that works with physicians to develop devices that are less invasive for patients. We pride ourselves on being at the cutting edge of industry and technology, while ensuring all our products are both patient centred and safe. Our partnership with LIT will assist in maintaining these high standards, while increasing our productivity.”

David Murray, Senior Research Engineer, Cook Ireland added: “This new system once fully developed will work in partnership with the operator, by providing oversight and assistance on any task that needs to be performed.”

Minister Humphreys welcomed the working partnership between a research institute and industry.

“The medical technologies industry has been a major success story in Ireland but innovation is crucial to its continued success,” she said.