Prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD recognised the partnership in a joint statement during the former’s visit to Ireland.

Ireland’s National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that builds on their existing partnership and “reinforces their shared commitment to advancing biomanufacturing workforce development in Canada and internationally”.

The partnership was recognised in the Joint Statement on Advancing the Canada-Ireland Partnership issued by the prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD over the weekend during the former’s bilateral visit to Ireland.

In a joint statement, the two leaders committed to “support biomanufacturing workforce development and skills by building on and extending the existing partnership between CASTL and NIBRT, enabling enhanced joint programming, shared expertise through a global network of NIBRT-affiliated training centres, and alignment of world-class biomanufacturing training initiatives”.

“NIBRT is delighted to extend its collaboration with CASTL and to continue supporting the advancement of biomanufacturing training through our global network of affiliated centres,” said Darrín Morrissey, CEO of NIBRT.

“Together, we are helping align training initiatives with industry needs and supporting the next generation of global talent for the biopharma sector.”

“CASTL is proud to continue building on our partnership with NIBRT, whose global leadership in biomanufacturing training has helped shape best-in-class workforce development models around the world,” said Penny Walsh, CEO of CASTL.

“This MOU will help strengthen training capacity, expand opportunities for collaboration, and support the development of the skilled workforce needed to grow Canada’s biomanufacturing sector.”

Just last week, NIBRT announced it has been selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) as its Regional Training Centre for Biomanufacturing for Europe.

It will be one of seven such establishments globally forming part of the WHO’s Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative (BWTI).

BWTI was first set up in 2023 as a means of addressing critical skills gaps evident in the biomanufacturing chain, and enabling countries to turn technological innovation into localised and sustainable production – particularly in areas concerning medicines and other healthcare technologies.

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