Cork-based life sciences design firm BioPharma Engineering has been acquired by Unispace, a global workplace strategy, design and construction firm.
BioPharma Engineering will become known as BPE, and a Unispace Global Life Sciences Centre of Excellence will be established in Ireland to deliver and grow the global life sciences business.
BioPharma Engineering designs and delivers laboratory, research and manufacturing facility space for global pharmaceutical and life sciences companies.
During 2021, the company completed more than €150m in capital expenditure projects, many of which were for Covid-19 medication manufacturing sites.
The partnership with Unispace, which has over 48 offices in 26 countries worldwide, will support the firm's continued expansion across key markets in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Simon Coveney, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has welcomed news of the acquisition.
"Cork is already home to nine of the ten of the world’s top Life Sciences companies, and the new Unispace Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences further solidifies the region as a globally renowned talent and competency hotspot for the pharma and medtech industries," he said.
"This partnership between an Irish design engineering firm and a global workspace giant exemplifies the talent and expertise as well as ambition that epitomises Irish businesses," he added.
Managing Director and Founder of BioPharma Engineering, John O’Reilly, said they are focused on accelerating growth in the life sciences sector.
"Today’s announcement and union with global workplace design leader, Unispace, ensures that we have the resources, infrastructure and investment to expand globally and rapidly, while continuing to lead with the talent and expertise that we have built in Ireland, through our Cork and Dublin offices," he said.
Steve Quick, CEO of Unispace, said life sciences companies are challenged with expanding their footprint rapidly to meet rising demand.
"Partnering with BPE is a natural move for us and will allow us to build on the work we have delivered to date for life sciences clients," he said.
"It will allow us to meet this moment for our many global clients in this industry, bolstering our unique model created to design and deliver spaces that support people, innovation and business growth under today's necessary yet radically compressed timeframes. With BioPharma by our side, we can’t ask for a better partner to propel this growth," he stated.
A virtual company-wide event connecting the US and Irish management with their teams was held in recent days to share news of the partnership internally.
The company said it is actively hiring for several roles based in Ireland, and these can be viewed at Indeed.com.
