Lisburn medical imaging company to create 72 new jobs

A Lisburn-based medical imaging company is creating 72 new jobs in a £12.9m investment.

Cirdan Imaging makes equipment and software to help in diagnosis for patients with cancer and other diseases.

New roles created will include AI engineers, software engineers and clinical laboratory analysts, and the sales and technical onboarding teams will be expanded.

Speaking to BBC News NI, CEO of Cirdan Imaging Hugh Cormican said the investment will help it to expand sales outside Northern Ireland while developing the skills of its workforce.

"This is another step up in the gears and another gear up to expand the business to the next level," he said.

"With that we anticipate further growth in the company and we certainly want to be able to sell more of our products to more countries around the world."

The investment is aimed at improving its laboratory information system to include new features to differentiate it from its competitors.

Minister for the Economy Caoimhe Archibald said the investment is a "vote of confidence in our talent and R&D capabilities".

"It's within the life and health sciences sector which is one of our high priority sectors where we see significant potential for growth and it's because of companies like this that have invested locally and that are creating jobs locally, and that are re-investing again," she said.

"It's something that I think we should all be very very supportive of."

She said the jobs that are being created are "high quality" and "well paid".

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it is an "absolutely fabulous investment, great to see more job creation here, and a company that is going from strength to strength".

"This is something that can make all real difference to people's lives."

"Ultimately this innovation will improve our health service, it will transform our health service," O'Neill said.

She said the investment will speed up the diagnosis process for clinicians and patients.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said this is "exactly the kind of thing that we want to see for our businesses here in Northern Ireland".

"Really exciting stuff, really innovative," she added.

Invest NI has offered £1.9m of support towards Cirdan Imaging's investment.

Alison Curry, chief development officer at Invest NI, said the investment is "really exciting" for the healthcare industry.

"It's really important for Northern Ireland that they have a thriving life and health sciences sector," she said.

"We've got a number of companies in that, we've got fantastic graduates coming from our universities."