Science is always innovating. The future belongs to those who learn from the past — an ethos embraced by Thermo Fisher Scientific who is celebrating a double anniversary in Cork. Not only is the contract pharmaceutical manufacturing facility marking the first year of its Irish operation in Currabinny, Co Cork, it is also recognising the legacy of the site where it now stands, which has been making medicines for the past 45 years.
This is a tradition Thermo Fisher Scientific proudly continues. The world leader in serving science has more than 450 highly skilled people — including chemists, engineers, analysts and operators — employed at its Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) in Cork.
Speaking on the anniversaries, Peter Ercoli, VP and general manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific says: “The site where Thermo Fisher Scientific stands has championed science for the past 45 years and we are delighted to celebrate its sapphire anniversary in 2020.
“There is an impressive heritage of science in Currabinny, one we are proud to continue. Today our highly skilled colleagues in Cork — many who are family members and have been working here for over three decades — supply active pharmaceutical ingredients to a range of customers world-wide, enabling them to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.”
Inspiring and nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers, thinkers and leaders, is important to Thermo Fisher Scientific. In the past year, they have funded two PhDs, placed 35 students from universities across Ireland and have run an apprenticeship scheme. A scholarship programme, open to children of employees, is also available to those wishing to study STEM in selected universities abroad.
“At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we understand our ability to make a significant positive impact on society, including the promotion of STEM education. We want to invest in developing the bright young STEM talent who will solve future challenges,” explained Peter Ercoli.
“We believe any opportunity to work with students is an opportunity to ignite the spark that may inspire our next great thinkers. We seek to develop and nurture bright, young talent to push the boundaries and innovate for the future.”
Thermo Fisher Scientific is also a strong advocate in investing in the communities where its employees live and work.
Liam Flavin, Capital Projects manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, who has worked on site for 24 years and heads up the employee-led Community Action Council, said: “Local community spirit is hugely important to us. Everything we do is grounded in our values of integrity, intensity, innovation and involvement.
“The volunteers in our Community Action Council directly connect with our local community here in Cork’s Lower Harbour through volunteering activities. This ranges from the community clean-up and investment projects, to donating PPE to local healthcare groups and easter eggs to hospitals.”
“It has been an exceptional first year in operation in Cork and we thank our colleagues, partners, customers and the local community for their support over the last 12 months. We look forward to building on this success and the many more anniversaries to come,” added Peter Ercoli.
The Cork facility is part of the company’s Pharma Services business and is proud to manufacture and supply Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to customers for use in clinical trials and approved medicines for commercial supply. This includes medicines to treat cancer, Parkinson’s disease, depression, HIV, congestive heart failure, diabetes and respiratory diseases, along with raw material for consumer healthcare products.
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