Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney today unveiled a 15-year initiative to help ensure that medical breakthroughs happen in Ireland.
A Medical Technologies Council has been set up to implement actions identified by the initiative.
The Medical Technologies Vision for 2020follows 12 months of consultation between the Government, industry, medics, academics and patient groups.
The council will also aim to increase the number of doctors working in research as well as highlighting business opportunities identified in clinical need.
The council is backed by Ibec's Irish Medical Devices Association and the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
The interim President of the Medical Technologies Council, Michael Loftus, said: "There is a rapid acceleration of the introduction of innovative medical devices; this will increasingly impact on the quality of care that can be delivered to patients and the location in which the care is delivered."
"This Council will represent Ireland's developing medical technologies cluster embracing industry, the clinical and academic communities and government support agencies," he added.
"There is nothing like this council in any other country. It will enable the medical technologies sector in Ireland to develop expertise and credibility on a world stage," Mr Loftus said.