Investments by multinational pharma companies have been a major driver of the country's economy. Click here to read Senior industrialists Pat Duffy and Matt Corcoran give their prescription for success. Alongside big pharma an indigenous life sciences industry has enjoyed mixed fortunes. Happily, the hard times and shuttering of some facilities has spawned the creation of many others as spotlighted in The Elan Alumni and Devices Central. The unique entrepreneurial talents Reg Shaw, Allen McClay, and Mark Heffernan are profiled as are several up-and-coming Irish biotech companies.