A survey of companies in the medtech, pharma and digital health sectors has found that AI and cybersecurity are among the top priorities of businesses.
The study was conducted by Amárach Research on behalf of business group Ibec.
It found that 65% of respondents identified AI as their greatest area of focus, while 82% of respondents indicated that they planned to invest in the digitalisation of healthcare.
“Most respondents identified the digitalisation of healthcare as very important in our research, this spans areas such as adding connectivity to devices, digital therapeutics and beyond,” said Kieran Daly, Ibec Digital Health Working Group Chair, and General Manager HealthBeacon.
“That’s why it’s unsurprising that cybersecurity was in the top three focus areas identified by 61% of leaders,” Mr Daly said.
Ciara Finlay, Ibec, Senior Executive said that 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.
“That is why the National Life Science Strategy for Ireland announced by Government has huge potential to help Ireland take a significant share of this growing market,” Ms Finlay said.
“However, if we do not have sufficient cross-industry input, alongside key opinion leaders, then we will lose out to competitors like France and the UK which have already made digital health a priority,” she added.
Toma Pervan, Executive, Irish Medtech said more than half of those surveyed identified the digital health business model as a priority.
“Additionally, more than half (57%) noted that strategy development was a key leadership skills as we build for the future, and the majority (82%) identified strategy deployment as a key skill,” Mr Pervan said.
More than 200 companies and organisations were contacted between June 2024 and January 2025 by Ibec Digital Health, with 23 interviews completed by Amárach as part of the research.
