Annual gathering showcases health technology innovation
BioInnovate Ireland symposium showcased cutting-edge solutions for unmet patient needs that are currently being developed
More than 250 health technology innovators, clinicians, entrepreneurs, legal experts and industry leaders gathered for the annual symposium of a specialist health technology innovation programme based in the west of Ireland.
BioInnovate Ireland aims to be a world-leading innovation hub, educating the next generation of healthcare visionaries and entrepreneurs.
Located on the University of Galway campus, the BioInnovate Ireland annual symposium explored the vital role of building a team of advisors and directors to drive startup success in health tech innovation.
The event, held on Thursday June 5, also showcased cutting-edge solutions for unmet patient needs that are currently being developed.
BioInnovate fellows have spent the last ten months understanding specific un-met healthcare challenges, including hypertension, nephrology and interventional oncology. The solutions being developed have the potential to help millions of patients through first-in-class medical devices and connected health solutions.
The theme of the symposium was ‘From Bench to Boardroom: Governance Strategies for Health Tech Leaders’ and was co-hosted by the Ian Quinn Centre for Health Technology Innovation.
“As a growing number of our alumni companies grow and scale, having the structures and processes in place to manage that scaling becomes more and more important,” said BioInnovate Ireland director Prof Martin O’Halloran.
“These companies must be empowered with the frameworks and leadership practices that underpin successful health technology ventures. This year’s symposium reflects BioInnovate’s commitment to supporting our companies transitioning from start-ups to scale-ups.”
Among those taking part in the symposium were Dr Elizabeth McGloughlin, co-founder of Tympany Medical; serial medtech entrepreneur Professor Paul Gilson; and Marie Gavin, Partner at law firm RDJ, all of whom explored governance, including the value of effective boards, the role of strong chairpersons, and practical strategies for navigating early-stage growth and investment.
Other speakers included Caroline Spillane, chief executive of the Institute of Directors Ireland; Lorna Smyth from Diligent; and Ruairí Cosgrove from PwC.
Meanwhile, Dr Leo Quinlan has been appointed as the inaugural Head of the new School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at University of Galway.
Dr Quinlan, a distinguished academic and research leader in the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway, is currently Vice-Dean for Learning, Teaching and Assessment, and has been a member of the academic community at the University since 1999.
Principal Investigator in Human Physiology at University of Galway and Funded Investigator in the CÚRAM – Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices, Dr Quinlan has made lasting contributions to education and research, including directing the BSc in Biomedical Science for a decade and serving as the Head of Physiology.
Dr Quinlan also played a pivotal role in establishing the University’s new MPharm programme, which will welcome its first cohort of students in September 2025.
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