NIBRT Welcomes EU Health Commissioner and Ministers as Part of Ireland’s EU Presidency

Dublin, Ireland, 01 October 2026 – The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) was delighted to welcome EU Health Ministers, Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, and national and European senior officials to its Dublin facility yesterday.

The delegation’s visit formed part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The visit was hosted by Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Health and provided the Commissioner, Ministers and senior officials with an opportunity to see first-hand Ireland’s capabilities in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, research and workforce development.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said:

“One of the priorities of Ireland’s presidency is to create opportunities for open dialogue on how Europe can build a stronger and more innovative health and life sciences ecosystem for the benefit of our patients.

“Today’s visit to NIBRT provided an opportunity to showcase a world-class centre that reflects the innovation, talent and spirit of collaboration that exists across Europe. Ahead of tomorrow’s informal meeting of EU health ministers, the visit highlighted what can be achieved when governments, researchers, clinicians and industry work together in pursuit of better health outcomes.”

The visit comes as the EU sets out a clear strategic ambition to position life sciences as central to European competitiveness, innovation, and global leadership. The forthcoming EU Biotech Act aims to strengthen Europe’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors, and to transform the region’s ability to translate scientific excellence into commercially viable products.

The visit to NIBRT, a global centre of excellence for training and research in bioprocessing, showcased the value of strengthening life sciences across the EU, spanning discovery and scale-up, regulation and manufacturing, and adoption within health services to ensure patient access.

Welcoming the delegation, NIBRT CEO Darrin Morrissey said:

“Europe has strong foundations in life sciences. Ireland has strong foundations in what it takes to manufacture complex biologic medicines at scale. Now is the opportunity to better connect the key elements across the EU, so that research, regulation, industry, manufacturing and health systems work together to deliver faster and more visible benefits for patients, health services and the wider European economy.”

PRESS RELEASE ENDS

About NIBRT

The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) is a global centre of excellence for training and research in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. NIBRT is located in a world-class facility in Dublin, Ireland. This facility is purpose built to closely replicate a modern bioprocessing plant with state-of-the-art equipment and enables NIBRT to offer the highest quality training and research solutions. NIBRT’s mission is to support the growth and development of all aspects of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The Institute also hosts CONCEPT, a dedicated facility for early-stage biotherapy development spanning biologics, cell, gene and RNA therapies. For more information, please visit www.nibrt.ie

Media Contact:
Killian O’Driscoll, Chief Commercial Officer, NIBRT
Killian.odriscoll@nibrt.ie

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi and NIBRT CEO Darrin Morrissey with EU Health Ministers and senior officials at NIBRT.