Cirdan Imaging (www.cirdan.com) — a Lisburn-based company that makes medical devices and software used in surgery and cancer diagnosis by pathologists and radiologists — has announced that it will create 46 new jobs over the next four years, as it undertakes a multi-million-pound R&D project.

Invest Northern Ireland has given £1.4 million in funding to support the project, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Queens University Belfast.

Making the announcement during a visit to the company’s premises, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton said: “Studies show a solid link between investment in R&D, profitability and growth.

The new jobs will focus on building the company’s customer base in new markets, ensuring that Cirdan is in the best possible position to capitalise on new opportunities and grow. Our support is helping this innovative company to scale up quickly.”

Cirdan Imaging CEO Hugh Cormican said: “The new jobs will help us identify new markets and new customers, and our R&D investment will mean that we can develop new products and expand our exports, especially in Oceania and North America.

“The support of Invest NI has allowed us to make the necessary investment within the required time-scales to allow us to compete effectively in these markets.”