- Stryker partners with IDA Ireland to upskill and reskill its employees at Limerick site for the future of work
- By year end, the programme will be extended to all other Stryker sites across Ireland
Developed with the support of the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, the three-year training initiative is designed to equip Stryker’s employees with the agility and skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving work environment characterised by digital innovation, advanced automation, and sustainability.
Upon completion of the extension, Stryker’s employees across its eight sites in Ireland will benefit from upskilling and reskilling programmes. As global trends reshape the skills landscape, the Training Centre of Excellence model ensures Stryker’s employees are ready to lead through change and continue delivering life-changing healthcare solutions.
The Training Centre of Excellence provides technical and functional training, including modules on lean manufacturing, digitalisation, sustainability practices, and the practical application of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in product development and operations.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said: “This announcement by Stryker marks a significant milestone for workforce development in Ireland. The expansion of the Training Centre of Excellence model to Limerick is a powerful endorsement of the region’s talent and strategic importance to the life sciences sector. This initiative will empower employees with future-ready skills in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing, ensuring Ireland remains at the forefront of global MedTech innovation.
The Government, through IDA Ireland, is proud to support this transformation agenda with targeted training grants and strategic investment, enabling companies like Stryker to upskill their teams and drive long-term competitiveness. As Limerick continues to demonstrate its strength as a regional growth centre, I wish Stryker every success as they rollout this model to other regional locations.
This is not just an investment in facilities, it is an investment in people and in Ireland’s future as a global leader in healthcare technology."
The announcement marks the first step in a nationwide rollout across all Stryker sites in Ireland, following the successful launch of the company’s Training Centre of Excellence at the Tullagreen campus in December 2024. It also aligns with Ireland’s Industry 4.0 Strategy, National AI Strategy, and National Skills Strategy, which emphasise the importance of upskilling and reskilling the workforce of today for the economy of tomorrow. Through this initiative, employees across multiple locations will gain access to development opportunities that support career progression, high performance and innovation.
Speaking on the expansion, Conor Tolan, Vice-President of Manufacturing for Joint Replacement at Stryker, said: “Making the Training Centre of Excellence model available to our sites around Ireland is a significant milestone on our journey to build a future-focused, agile workforce. These initiatives ensure that our teams are equipped with the tools and skills needed to help us succeed in a rapidly changing industry.
“The upskilling of teams across our sites reflects Stryker’s long-standing focus on investing in people and continuous learning. By building a future-ready workforce, we can remain at the forefront of innovation and manufacturing excellence. With the support of IDA Ireland, we’re proud to lead the way in workforce transformation and to provide unique opportunities for growth, leadership, and to make a difference.”
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, added: “IDA Ireland is thrilled to support the rollout of Stryker’s Training Centre of Excellence model to additional sites in Ireland. The initiative highlights Stryker’s forward-thinking approach to talent development and is a strong example of how MedTech companies are embracing workforce transformation to stay ahead of industry change. The extension of the model demonstrates the strength of Ireland’s innovative ecosystem, and we are proud to partner with Stryker once again on this transformative initiative, which will have lasting benefits for employees, the communities within which they operate and the global healthcare ecosystem.”
Welcoming today’s announcement, Kevin O’Keeffe, Site Lead at Stryker Limerick, said: “The introduction of the Training of Excellence model at our Limerick site is a significant development for Stryker and for the Limerick team. It will bring a structured and future-focused approach to developing our people, empowering employees to take ownership of their skillset and allow them to contribute meaningfully to Stryker’s mission to make healthcare better. We’re proud to be a part of this transformative journey.”
The commitment to developing the Training Centre of Excellence model across Stryker’s sites in the Republic of Ireland by the end of 2025 builds on Stryker’s legacy of employee development and complements its well-established apprenticeship and graduate programmes.
Stryker first established a presence in Ireland in 1998 with an initial team of 20 employees. Over the past 26 years, Stryker’s operations in Ireland have and evolved and now include five manufacturing facilities and three innovation centres across sites in Cork (Anngrove, Macroom, Model Farm Road, Springhill and Tullagreen) and Limerick. Acquired in 1998, Stryker’s Limerick facility manufactures devices for joint replacements, CMF, Spine and T&E across knees, oncology and bone cement portfolios.
