ICON Cares: A force for good
ICON Cares expresses our passion for helping others and our pledge to achieve more together. With our large global workforce, we see this as an immense opportunity to use our knowledge, experience and kindness towards others as forces for good.
At ICON, we are passionate about:
- Creating a positive impact on patients’ lives and applying our collective expertise and innovation to increase access to clinical trials across all populations and thereby drive better patient outcomes
- Conducting business sustainably and playing a role in combating climate change
- Promoting our employees’ professional development and creating a workplace where all employees feel a sense of belonging and can contribute to our mission
- Strengthening the communities in which we live and work
- Doing the right thing
ICON Cares 2024 Report - A message from Steve Cutler, our CEO
Throughout 2024, ICON remained focused on its mission of expediting drug development to improve patients’ lives.
The industry sits at the confluence of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and a parallel revolution in biomedical science. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to address unmet clinical need and to impact the lives of countless patients.
As a leading clinical research organisation (CRO), we strive for better patient outcomes while making a significant impact on improving access to clinical trials on a larger scale. This entails conducting our business sustainably, fostering an inclusive workplace for all employees and supporting the wellbeing of our communities – all with an emphasis on collaboration.
In 2024 we contributed to 19 medicines. We concentrated on expanding trial access for all participants, trial investigators and community and patient advocacy groups. We expanded our capabilities in AI and robotic process automation, which in turn enhanced our efficiency, execution and delivery for our customers. Our science-based targets (SBTs) were also validated in October 2024. With this validation complete and our software platform in place to help collect and monitor our emissions, ICON has a solid foundation for working towards achieving our climate targets in the years to come.
While we take pride in what we’ve accomplished, we will not become complacent. Looking to and beyond 2025, we will sharpen our focus on learning, growing and transforming as a CRO partner of choice. We will intensify our pursuit of novel processes with patient care at the centre. We will continue to optimise clinical operations, synthesising with our data, expertise, experience, insights and technology. We will drive progress, guided by our collective vision for ICON Cares.
Kind regards,
Steve Cutler
Chief Executive Officer
Our ICON Cares goals
ICON is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and a regular participant in EcoVadis and CDP assessments. ICON reports in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2024, our near-term, long-term and net-zero science-based targets (SBTs) were validated by the SBTi based on our submission. We report on our targets and progress towards them for the first time in our 2024 ICON Cares report.
Our ICON Cares priorities
ICON Cares strives to drive meaningful change for our global workforce, the communities where we operate, the environment and the wider society.
ICON previously identified seven key ESG priorities which are focus areas for us in managing impacts on our business, people, the environment and communities. In 2024, the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) verified ICON’s near-term, long-term and net-zero targets. This milestone will drive ICON’s climate strategy in the years to come.
ICON partners with global healthcare leaders to procure renewable power in China
Aligned with ICON's sustainability strategy, this collaboration of 12 companies will unlock approximately 225 GWh of renewable electricity annually for the research, development and manufacture of medicines.
Time World's Best Companies for Sustainable Growth 2025
In recognition of ICON's ESG efforts and commitment, Time has named us one of the World's top companies in sustainable growth.
ICON placed 57th in the list, the second highest ranked company headquartered in Ireland and the highest ranked CRO.
2024 PwC Business Post Sustainable Business Awards
ICON has been named Social & Equality Business of the Year at the 2024 PwC Business Post Sustainable Business Awards. These awards recognise leadership, innovation, investment and ingenuity in the areas of Environment, Social and Governance.
TIME Best Companies Award
ICON has been named as one of the World’s Best Companies by TIME magazine in both 2024 and 2023.
Out of the 1000 companies, ICON ranked in 107th place, making ICON once more, the top ranked CRO on the list.
The awards evaluate companies using standardised KPIs on employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability.
Frost & Sullivan Enlightened Growth Leadership Award
The Frost & Sullivan Institute presented ICON with an Enlightened Growth Leadership Award in both 2024 and 2023.
The awards identify companies that have embraced emerging technologies, generated opportunities for all, while demonstrating best practices for sustainable growth.
AmCham Global Impact Award
ICON received the 2023 Global Impact Award at the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland’s US-Ireland Business Awards.
Those shortlisted for the Global Impact Award were required to have had a positive, global or international impact on markets or society, and to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and diversity.
