Image taken from Horizon promotional video
By Sam Wroblewski WPRO.com
Irish medical engineering company, Horizon, has sealed a deal with the state to open an office in Providence for their new US operations.
“The hope is to have a flag planted and office open in Providence sometime at the end of next year,” said Horizon US Operations Director Gary Dillon.
Horizon specializes in providing engineering solutions to pharmaceutical and medical companies. As Dillon explains, when pharmaceutical companies develop new medicines, Horizon will contract with manufactures to develop and implement the equipment necessary to make the products on a large scale.
Additional services also include reviewing manufacturing facilities and identifying inefficiencies to improve a company’s product.
Horizon CEO Aiden Corcoran, along with Governor Lincoln Chafe announced the company would set up shop last week during the Irish Prime Minister’s visit to Providence.
Commerce RI’s John Pagliarini credits the state’s commitment to investing in its higher education as a reason for Horizon choosing the Ocean State, saying they became interested because of the talent pool being trained in local universities.
“Rhode Island wasn’t even on their radar screen,” said Pagliarini, “but when they saw our assets we have to offer they decided to choose our state.”
Pagliarini said Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco were also potential choices, but Rhode Island’s comparative affordability and proximity to big pharmaceuticals in New Jersey and New York, made the Ocean State the perfect fit.
Horizon is already operates in nine countries, and is the second Ireland-based company to open operations in Rhode Island following Greencore in Quonset Point, and more foreign investment may be on its way. As WPRO’s Andrew Augustus reported last week, news of nonstop flights to Ireland from TF Green may surface down the road.
“In talking to Aiden Corcoran, he is so excited about the venture he is offering his services as a private ambassador to Ireland and speaking with other companies about Rhode Island,” said Pagliarini, “This could be the first of many companies from Ireland and the UK to come and consider Rhode Island.”
The Horizon’s Providence office will house both a consulting and sales team comprised of eight to ten workers, with the potential for more hires as business grows.
