109 Irish companies secure European Space Agency support

Over 100 Irish companies secured European Space Agency (ESA) support last year in what was a significant year for the Irish space industry.

ESA awarded €9.9m in contracts to 109 Irish companies primarily focused on industrial activities.

Industrial co-funding of €2.2 million further supported these enterprises.

The figures are published in Enterprise Ireland's Space Activities in Ireland 2023 Report.

One of the key highlights in the report was the launch of Ireland's first satellite - the Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 (EIRSAT-1) - on 1 December last year.

The satellite is a student-led project from University College Dublin and was developed in collaboration with Irish technology companies.

Throughout the year, 25 companies, including three newly space-active businesses, were supported in developing products and technologies across sectors including telecommunications, earth observation, and space exploration.

"The strong growth in Irish companies engaging with ESA, now reaching 109, is a clear indicator of Ireland's expanding footprint in the global space economy," said Marina Donohoe, Head of Research and Innovation at Enterprise Ireland.

"This year’s report demonstrates the progress and impact Irish companies are making through collaboration with ESA, not only in advancing space technology but also in driving innovation in sectors with downstream applications."

"Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting these companies and the growing number of research teams actively involved in space-related developments supported by ESA."

In 2023 the space economy was valued at $630 billion.

It is forecast to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with an average annual growth rate of 9%, significantly outpacing global GDP growth.

This rapid expansion, driven by both public and private sector investments, has opened new opportunities for 'NewSpace' companies developing innovative space-related products and services.

"The increasing number of Irish companies working with ESA, alongside the launch of EIRSAT-1, highlights Ireland's strong position in this fast-growing sector," said Emer Higgins, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail.

"As Ireland’s space community continues to innovate and collaborate with European and global partners, the future of the country’s space sector looks brighter than ever."

Earlier this year, two technology systems designed and built by Irish space engineering company Réaltra for navigation and positioning were used in ESA's new rocket the Ariane 6 when it launched in July.

In a further contribution to Ireland's growing space sector Enterprise Ireland’s ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Ireland welcomed seven new start-ups. focused on developing both upstream and downstream applications.

Another significant milestone for the Irish space industry was the establishment of the Irish Space Association (ISA).

This new network is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing and play a pivotal role in the future growth of Ireland's space sector.