Even amidst the economic downturn the global consumption of medical devices has continued to rise. Growing at an average rate of 9% per annum and driven by the changing demographic of a globally ageing population, medical device manufacturers continue to invest in manufacturing that serves an increasingly diverse market. Nowhere has the search for medical device manufacturing excellence become more apparent than in Ireland. The Emerald Isle's aggressive package to attract inward investment has resulted in the establishment of manufacturing facilities for 15 of the world's top 20 medical device manufacturers.