THE GLOBAL healthcare group Covidien yesterday announced a €900,000 investment in medical technologies research projects with NUI Galway.

This collaboration represents the first stage of a €1.8 million investment in Irish universities which Covidien revealed in July, and will mean the US company supports two RD projects at the Galway university.

Minister for Health Mary Harney, who attended the announcement, said the university-based facilities funded by Covidien would ensure Ireland continued to produce high quality researchers who can develop new technologies, and ultimately will further patient health and safety.

Ms Harney said Ireland was a “fantastic country” with a can-do attitude and a belief “that we can make things happen”.

She added: “Nowhere is this more evident than in the university sector.”

Covidien’s president of surgical devices Scott Flora said Ireland is an attractive investment location because of the legal environment relating to patent protection, and because it has “the network to provide this type of opportunity to bring universities and business together”.

NUI Galway’s vice-president for research Prof Terry Smith said Covidien’s investment was “highly important” for the university and and also for Ireland.

It shows that the country has the expertise and the capability to deliver on these kinds of research projects, he added.