Beyond its beauty and charm, Ireland offers significant benefits for medical device manufacturers. Medtech heavy hitters like Becton Dickinson and Boston Scientific have had a presence in the country for more than 20 years. Fifteen of the top 20 medical device companies have set up shop in Ireland, according to IDA Ireland. The government-funded organization's goal is to attract foreign investment, says Ivan Houlihan, vice president of IDA Ireland.

With more than 250 medtech suppliers and OEMs, Ireland holds a strong manufacturing position in Europe and is the continent's second-largest exporter of medtech products. Last year Ireland’s medtech exports reached c.$9.7 billion.

Most devices are exported to the United States, Germany, Japan, and other parts of the UK. Ireland's main competitors in Europe are Switzerland and Germany. However, Ireland is the only European country with U.S. preborder clearance. Galway is the central manufacturing hub, but there are facilities located throughout the country. Some strong advantages to doing business in Ireland include:

Although the region has been challenged by the financial crisis, gross domestic product growth returned last year, and the government is focused on structural reform that looks to maintain Ireland's strong position.