A scientific approach
Tapping into the demand for scientific regulatory expertise, Kerona Scientific has built up an international customer base within three years of operation
Established in Skerries, Co Dublin in 2014, Kerona Scientific has become the largest regulatory consultancy in Ireland. It specialises in assisting companies from the biocide and agrochemical sectors around the globe to obtain the necessary approvals to register and market their products in EU countries.
With a team of ten people possessing a combination of specialist scientific skills and European languages – including Russian and Arabaic native speakers – Kerona Scientific’s clients are leaders in the proprietary and generic plant protection, biocides, fertilisers, plant bio stimulants and biopesticide industries.
The key to Kerona Scientific’s success has been its indepth understanding of the evolving regulatory requirements in both the EU and individual Member States as well as the delivery of excellent customer service, according to managing director Dr Irene McGrath.
“We proactively track project delivery data and client feedback,” she says. “We have found that clients particularly rate our quality management and time management frameworks, and in fact, we have become the preferred supplier for some companies.”
She notes that Kerona Scientific has built strong client relationships, based on its industry knowledge and experience. The business has grown via word of mouth (plus an informative website, www. kerona.ie). It operates for small generic companies and large multinationals and provides services to companies from China, India and Australasia, among others. McGrath believes that a key unique selling point is that the company’s expertise allows it to efficently fasttrack clients through a complex process that might otherwise take a company from a different jurisdiction such as China up to a year to navigate. Some companies require support and guidance throughout the process, whereas others rely on Kerona Scientifc for expertise on a particular aspect, such as data matching.
To cater for increased demand, Kerona Scientific will move to larger premises in Skerries in 2018, and will recruit an additional five consultants to widen the range of services offered to its expanding client base. It also has an office in Madrid, Spain.
McGrath says the company’s vision is to become the leading Irish-based scientific regulatory consultancy in Europe, for both the EU and individual Member States. Brexit will create opportunities in this sector as in many others, she maintains. As an Irish-based consultancy, creating high quality jobs locally, while exporting its expertise, Kerona Scientific is well placed to acheive its goal.
“We have found that clients particularly rate our quality management and time management frameworks”