Cirdan Imaging to create 72 jobs through £12.9m innovation investment In Co Antrim

Pictured left to right are Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Hugh Cormican, CEO of Cirdan, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Alison Currie, Chief Development Officer, Invest NI.

A £12.9 million investment by Cirdan Imaging is set to create 72 highly skilled jobs while strengthening Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre for life and health sciences innovation.

Announced by the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the Minister for Economy, the investment will support the Lisburn-based company’s ‘Vision-Path’ project, designed to enhance its laboratory information system (LIS), expand its workforce and accelerate international growth.

The project will upgrade Cirdan’s LIS technology with new features aimed at improving efficiency and helping the company compete in a highly competitive global diagnostics market.

The system plays a critical role in pathology laboratories, helping clinicians deliver faster and more accurate diagnoses for patients with cancer and other diseases.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the project highlights the strength of Northern Ireland’s life sciences sector and the talent available locally.

“72 new jobs, many of them highly specialised, will provide valuable opportunities for people in the local area. This £12.9million investment by Cirdan Imaging is a strong endorsement of our Life & Health Sciences sector and the highly skilled workforce we have here.

“Just as importantly, this investment will support Cirdan’s continued innovation, strengthening patient diagnosis and care across the world. We are determined to back businesses to innovate, scale and create good jobs.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the investment demonstrates how innovation and skills development together can drive growth and competitiveness.

“This £12.9m investment and creation of 72 new jobs in Lisburn is very positive news. Cirdan’s investment demonstrates how innovation and skills development go hand in hand to drive competitiveness. By enhancing its LIS system and expanding into new international markets, the company is building on the expertise we have here in Northern Ireland and reinforcing our reputation as a centre of excellence.

“This investment reflects the depth of talent we have here and is fantastic for the company.”

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald described the project as a significant boost for one of the region’s priority sectors.

“This investment will help create good jobs and increase innovation in one of my priority sectors. It is a vote of confidence in our talent and R&D capabilities in the north. Cirdan is an exemplar company which demonstrates how investment across R&D and skills can help drive growth. With a focus on AI and photonics, Cirdan has a real opportunity to develop innovative products which will drive competitiveness globally.”

The Minister added:

“The north is well known for advances in medical devices and innovative diagnostic products. Our strengths in Life and Health Sciences coupled with advances in AI presents the north as an exciting location for both existing and potential investors.”

Cirdan’s technology is designed to improve laboratory workflows, helping healthcare providers process diagnostic information more efficiently while reducing costs. The company’s Vision-Path project aims to introduce new capabilities that will differentiate its LIS platform and support expansion into new international markets.

Chief Executive Hugh Cormican said the investment is key to helping the company compete in a demanding global market.

“The global LIS market is highly competitive, creating significant barriers to entry. This project will address this challenge and enable our LIS to become more competitive in additional markets.”

Alongside technological development, the project includes significant investment in workforce training and skills development, supporting the company’s senior leadership and upskilling staff across sales, marketing and technical roles.

Mr Cormican added:

“Over 72 jobs will be created over the course of the project. Part of this new employment will be in our sales and technical onboarding team to help us scale globally. We are ambitious and want to grow our sales in existing markets such as the UK and Australia. And with our innovative new features we also want to break into other global markets including North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.”

The roles to be created include Clinical Laboratory Analysts, Project Managers, Integration Managers, Instrumentation Engineers, AI Engineers and Software Engineers, with recruitment expected to take place gradually through to 2028.

Invest Northern Ireland has offered £1.9 million of support towards the project, including assistance for skills development, research and development activity and 10 of the new roles.

Alison Currie, Chief Development Officer at Invest NI, said the investment will help strengthen Northern Ireland’s position in a globally competitive sector.

“Innovation is the driving force behind Northern Ireland’s Life and Health Sciences sector, enabling breakthroughs that strengthen our economy and improve patient outcomes around the world.

“Along with supporting the company’s innovation journey we’re directly supporting 10 management level roles with an average salary of £70,500. This investment will help Cirdan to scale and reinforce its position as a key player in Northern Ireland’s Life Health Sciences sector.”

Invest NI’s research and development support for the project is part funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.

At a glance

• Cirdan Imaging has announced a £12.9 million investment linked to its Vision-Path innovation project.

• The initiative will create 72 new jobs in Lisburn across technical, engineering and management roles.

• The project will enhance the company’s laboratory information system used in pathology diagnostics worldwide.

• Roles will include AI engineers, software engineers, laboratory analysts and project managers.

• Invest NI has offered £1.9 million support, including backing for R&D and 10 management-level roles.

• Recruitment is expected to take place gradually with the new positions planned to be filled by 2028.

• The investment aims to help Cirdan expand globally into markets including North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.