The event was officiated by Minister Noel Grealish and attended by distinguished guests including Údarás na Gaeltachta, IDA Ireland, iForm UCD, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, MET Technology Gateway and ATU iHub. This significant milestone not only marks a new chapter for Salt Medical but also highlights the growing importance of Claregalway and the wider Galway region in the global MedTech landscape.
“This is my first official opening ceremony as a minister,” said Minister Grealish, “and it is fitting that it is in my own parish and locality. The financial investment and commitment that Salt Medical has shown towards the Claregalway facility is a real vote of confidence—it shows the intent that Salt has in making a significant impact here and sees the potential for growth well into the future, and I welcome that.”
At the heart of the new facility is one of Ireland’s most advanced cleanrooms. Featuring state-of-the-art air filtration, environmental monitoring, and precision-controlled design. The ISO class 8 cleanroom provides the ideal conditions for manufacturing high-precision medical devices, ensuring safety, quality, and innovation at every stage of production.
This cleanroom forms a critical part of Salt Medical’s broader vision: to build a vertically integrated manufacturing ecosystem, where product design, prototyping, and production occur under one roof, providing superior oversight and control.
In his remarks, Minister Grealish acknowledged the broader impact on the region: “From the perspective of the local economy, it is fantastic to see continued inward investment in this county, and that investment is spreading out to satellite towns around Galway City.”
He also highlighted the collaboration that made this possible: “The support and help that Salt Medical has received from Údarás na Gaeltachta given that the company is located in the Gaeltacht region of Baile Chláir, is something I absolutely welcome.”
The facility is already making strides in engaging with the community. “I’m glad to see too that you have opened your doors to the local community,” added Minister Grealish. “Recently you welcomed TY students from the local school, Coláiste Bhaile Chláir—maybe their glimpse into the fantastic world of medical technology will inspire some of them to be leaders in this area themselves in the not-too-distant future.”
Alongside the opening, Salt Medical has also launched its brand-new website—www.saltmedtec.com—offering insights into its capabilities, values, and vision for the future of medical device innovation.
In a heartfelt moment during the ceremony, the Salt team paid tribute to Tom Burke, a foundational figure in the Irish Medtech industry who passed away 11 months ago.
“Tom was a pioneer as one of the very first generation of Medtech professionals in Ireland, having worked in the first medical device company in Galway. He made an enormous contribution to the Irish Medtech Community and was instrumental in helping us with our initial setup. He gave us everything he could—his knowledge, experience, his time, and energy—and we are forever grateful for his support and kindness.”
Speaking on behalf of Salt Medical, Managing Director Dr. Yuqi Shaughnessy reflected on the significance of the occasion: “Today is a milestone, not just for us, but also for the Irish Medtech industry. Salt Medical is proud to be the first medical device CDMO funded by a Chinese VC, with operations launched in five global locations in 2023. We are excited to establish our European centre of operations here in Claregalway and look forward to contributing to the region’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.”
The opening of the Claregalway facility underscores Salt Medical’s mission to deliver cutting-edge medical technologies while fostering collaboration, community engagement, and economic development in Ireland.