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The startup scene in Ireland

University of Galway reports 24 spin-outs and 242 inventions since 2020, along with more than 300 industry collaborations.

Country
Ireland
Population
83,456
Time zone
Europe/Dublin
Fig. 1185 · Dolmen

About

University of Galway reports 24 spin-outs and 242 inventions since 2020, along with more than 300 industry collaborations.

Examples include Embo Medical, which the University reports spun out in 2012 and was acquired by CR Bard in 2016 for more than €43 million, and Perfuze, founded by Wayne Allen and Liam Mullins in 2018. The University reported that Perfuze received €22 million in 2025 for U.S. commercial rollout and research and development, and FDA clearance for its Millipede88 catheter in early 2026.

ATU reports that its Galway iHub client companies received €79.55 million in DTIF awards across 2019–2025, approximately 15% of national DTIF funding. ATU says its MET Centre supported DTIF collaborations involving iHub companies, providing research, engineering, prototyping, testing and technology development.

University of Galway’s BioInnovate is a full-time, 10-month health technology program; its official page stated that 2026 applications were closed.

Startup ecosystem standing

Where Galway ranks

Rankings that list Galway
RankingEditionPositionSince last editionTrustWhat it measures
Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities)2025#313No prior editionBEcosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate
Positions come from each publisher's edition. Open a ranking for its method and trust notes, or an edition for the full list.

4 organizations with a profile

Who's based in Galway

Accelerators 2

BioInnovate Ireland logoAccelerator

Empowering healthcare innovators through education and collaboration.

Validator.ie logoAccelerator

Empowering early-stage startups in Ireland.

Incubators 1

CREW logoIncubator

Empowering digital creatives in CreaTech.

Investors 1

Pick what describes you

Your way in

From public sources

What the sources say about Galway

Questions about Galway

How does Galway rank as a startup ecosystem?

Its best position is #313 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025).

How many startup investors are based in Galway?

1 investor based in Galway has a profile here: Medtech Syndicate. The real number is higher.

Are there accelerators or incubators in Galway?

Yes. Galway has 2 accelerators and 1 incubator on record, including BioInnovate Ireland and CREW.

Geographic proximity

Nearby cities to Galway

All cities in Ireland

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