One of the most attractive features Ireland has, and one of the main reasons why global clinical research companies have operations here is the quality of scientific and clinical research carried out in irish academic institutions. This has created a highly educated and research driven workforce which filters into the clinical research industry. Ireland has a number of academic centres for excellence in medical and scientific research including:

• Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin
• RCSI Research Institute, Beaumont Hospital
• Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre
• Institute of Molecular Medicine
• Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience
• Tyndall National Institute
• National Centre for Biomedical Science Engineering
• Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre

Many leading pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations (CRO's) also have significant operations here in Ireland and is a target industry for those coming from pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and those with PhD's in Life Sciences.