PHOTOS BD Research Centre Ireland wins top 2025 Limerick Chamber Regional Business Award

Winners of the Best Overall Business of the Year sponsored by TUS were BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI). Presenting the award to Connor Cunnane & Team, BD Research Centre Ireland were Mairéad Connolly, President Limerick Chamber and Professor Vincent Cunnane & Dr Liam Browne, TUS. Pic. Brian Arthur

BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI) has been crowned Overall Business of the Year at the 2025 Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards

The annual Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards, sponsored by Technological University of the Shannon, celebrate the ambition, innovation and leadership driving growth across the Mid-West.

The global medtech firms’ Castletroy-based research centre took home the top prize at a gala event at the Strand Hotel Limerick, on Friday, November 14, which was attended by the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Dennis King.

Having also won in its category of ‘Innovation & Digital Transformation,’ BD RCI fought off stiff competition from other category winners to take the top award, in a night of celebration for business in the Mid-West region.

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Commenting on the award, Connor Cunnane, Senior Systems Engineer at BD Research Centre Ireland, said the group was “absolutely delighted” to be crowned as overall winner.

He said, “It is great to have an organisation like Limerick Chamber acknowledging the best of our city and region and the companies operating here. This award recognises the impact we are making in the region and will drive us to be even better.”

Speaking at the Limerick Chamber Annual President’s Dinner and Regional Business Awards, Chamber President Mairéad Connolly issued a strong call for increased government investment in the Mid-West, warning that while the region’s economy is thriving, “there is no room for complacency.”

Speaking to an audience of more than 400 business leaders, political representatives and dignitaries, including the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Dennis King, at the Limerick Strand Hotel, Ms Connolly highlighted that “the Mid-West has much to offer but needs more investment,” pointing to ongoing challenges in housing, infrastructure and healthcare as barriers to continued growth.

“It’s an exciting time to be living and working in the Midwest. But there are headwinds for businesses – rising costs, tariffs, and challenges on infrastructure and housing. Healthcare continues to dominate for the wrong reasons. This region has much to offer but needs more investment,” she said.

With Limerick Chamber playing a proactive role in shaping policy through data-driven advocacy, Ms Connolly referenced several key initiatives and achievements from the past year, including the Chambers continued lobbying for investment in offshore renewable energy through the Shannon Estuary, which she said “can once again be a national game-changer, just as Ardnacrusha was a century ago”.

“The success of our region is a collective effort,” she said. “It starts with each of us in the room, working together with our elected representatives locally, nationally and at a European level. There should be no cap on our ambition for the region.”

The President’s Award went to Professor Vincent Cunnane, President, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) for the transformative role he has played over his career to date in Limerick. Professor Cunnane was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the Mid-West region through a distinguished career spanning academia, regional development and leadership in higher education.

Category winners on the night were Best Emerging Business, sponsored by Limerick City and County Council:  Treaty Software; Best SME: Regional Business Excellence Award, sponsored by AIB:  DSM, Data Storage & Management; Innovation & Digital Transformation Award, sponsored by Holmes LLP:  BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI); Sustainability & Environmental Leadership Award, sponsored by EY:  Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Ireland; and Best Not for Profit, sponsored by Northern Trust: Our Lady of Lourdes Community Services Group.

Other winners include Best Employer: People & Culture Excellence Award, sponsored by The Shannon Airport Group: Cook Medical; Best Customer Experience Excellence Award: Retail & Hospitality, sponsored by BDO Limerick: University Concert Hall; and Best CSR Community Impact Award, sponsored by Limerick Chamber Skillnet:  Dell Technologies.

Michelle Gallagher, CEO Limerick Chamber said, “Recognising and supporting the businesses that power our region is at the heart of what we do at Limerick Chamber, and tonight’s awards are a perfect example of that. Each of our finalists and winners represents the best of what this region stands for — innovation, collaboration and community. The success we see here tonight is proof that the Mid-West continues to punch above its weight — this region has the people, ideas and partnerships that enable businesses to thrive.”

Dr Liam Brown, Vice President of TUS, and sponsor of the overall Business of the Year Award said, “The stories behind tonight’s winners show the strength and potential of this region. At TUS, we see every day how talent and enterprise are transforming ideas into impact. Our partnership with Limerick Chamber reflects a shared commitment to building that pipeline of skills, innovation and opportunity that sustains economic growth across the Mid-West. Together, education and enterprise are driving the innovation and competitiveness that underpin long-term regional growth.”

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick