Celebrating Student Success in MedTech: Award-Winning Research from Innopharma Education Graduates
Author: Dr. Áine Behan, Programme Director for MSc/PgDip in Medical Device Technology and Business
Ireland’s MedTech sector is one of the most dynamic and innovative industries in Europe. At Innopharma Education, we are proud to support this growth by empowering students to transform industry challenges into impactful research.
Recent achievements from our postgraduate students highlight how education, collaboration, and innovation can deliver real-world advancements in medical device technology. One of the outstanding examples is Rachael Purcell, whose research projects were recently recognised at the prestigious Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA) Award and Conference 2025 . Her story demonstrates how postgraduate study can directly influence the future of medical devices in healthcare technology.
Turning Industry Challenges into Real-World Innovation
A defining feature of our postgraduate programmes is the close collaboration between students, academic supervisors and industry partners. Many of our learners are already working in industry and bring real workplace challenges into their research projects.
This approach enables students to apply academic knowledge to real MedTech problems, work with industry data and technologies and develop innovative solutions that support healthcare advancements.
We were delighted to celebrate the success of Rachael Purcell, who received First Prize at the 2025 HECA Student Research Awards. Rachael, who works with Stryker at its innovation and manufacturing hub in Cork, completed the MSc in Medical Device Technology and Business delivered by Innopharma Education in partnership with Griffith College Dublin. Her dissertation “Utilising Virtual Population-based Anatomic Design Methods in Design of a Glenoid Component in a Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty System” explored how MedTech industry data and virtual 3D models of shoulder anatomy can be used to improve the design of components for reverse shoulder replacement systems.
This innovative research demonstrated advanced analytical thinking, application of anatomical modelling in device design and practical relevance to the medical device industry. Rachael described the experience as a hugely rewarding journey:
Her work highlights how postgraduate research can translate directly into improvements in medical device design and patient outcomes.
Shaping the Future of the MedTech Industry
Ireland is home to many global medical device companies and continues to be a hub for innovation in healthcare technology. According to the insights from IDA Ireland, it is estimated that 133,000 skilled scientific and technical workers will be needed across the next decade, 90,000 of which will be in MedTech, particularly R&D and manufacturing. At the same time companies are striving to meet Industry 4 and 5 standards, which increases the use of new technologies and in turn creates greater demand for new digital skills.
Our programmes are designed to ensure students gain skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace. This blend of academic rigour and industry relevance helps students progress their careers while contributing to Ireland’s thriving MedTech ecosystem.
In our recent webinar, Dr. Áine Behan shared some success stories from our alumni. Learn more on our blog “Fast-Tracking Your MedTech Career: Real Outcomes from Irish Postgraduate Study”.
If you are inspired by the success of our graduates, now is the perfect time to explore a postgraduate qualification in medical device technology. Explore our range of programmes and join a community of innovators shaping the future of MedTech.
For more insight into careers in MedTech, explore our blogs: Spotlight on MedTech and Careers in MedTech.
