Research into medical devices conducted by Lero (the Irish Software Research Engineering Centre) is to help increase the number of healthcare software graduates in Ireland.

The centre is developing processes with the Dundalk Institute of Technology to enable medical device companies to create products in accordance with new EU and US regulations.

Under the rules, medical devices are no longer treated solely as hardware and software involved must comply with the IEC 62304 standard. A higher diploma in computing in medical device software is being developed in Dundalk Institute of Technology under Dr Fergal McCaffery. The programme will deliver an additional 40 software graduates per year, with the first 20 already completing the degree programme.

“Ireland is an international hotbed for the medical device industry but indigenous and multinational companies here require access to a ready supply of skilled graduates as well as core research,” said Dr McCaffery. It is part of the ICT Ireland Skillnet programme, retraining employees from sectors in decline.