Ireland has been building a reputation as a provider of innovative technologies for use in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) programme since joining in 1975. Recent examples include Ubotica’s delivery of the first AI-enabled satellite launch system, EnBio’s dispensing of vital heat shields for the ESA Solar Orbiter mission and the on-board cameras provided by Realtrá space for the James Webb telescope launch. These successes culminated in the publication of a national space strategy in 2019, which set out detailed targets to be accomplished over the following five years, and Ireland has already reached 95% of these targets. Irish downstream business is not limited to ESA-related activities, and space clusters may support further sector development. Conor Sheehan is working with industry partners to create the Irish Space Association to promote the quality of space activity in Ireland and further opportunities.
How Ireland is becoming a key player in the European space program
Since joining the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1975, Ireland has built a strong reputation as a provider of innovative technologies for use in the European space program. Irish industry and research groups have consistently contributed groundbreaking technologies, resulting in Ireland reaching 95% of the national space strategy targets just three years after its publication in 2019.
One of the recent accomplishments is by Ubotica, a Dublin-based space-tech company that delivered the first AI-enabled satellite launch system for ESA. In 2020, EnBio, the inventors of a novel metal surface technology, provided vital heat shields for the ESA Solar Orbiter mission. Additionally, the on-board cameras by Realtrá space were integral to ensuring a successful deployment of the James Webb telescope launch, a Nasa, ESA, and Canadian Space Agency-led international science mission in December 2021.
Danny Gleeson, the chief commercial officer at Realtrá Space, highlights the significance of these achievements, stating that the positive aspects of these business successes are starting to permeate the media and press. However, these successes were not coincidental; it was a long time coming, culminating over many years in 2019 with the publication of a national space strategy.
The Irish delegation to the ESA is comprised of the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETM) and Enterprise Ireland (EI). In 2019, a steering group of representatives working in the Irish space sector published the national space strategy, setting out detailed targets to be accomplished over the following five years. These targets included doubling the space-related revenues for industries, supporting 100 companies, doubling participation in EU programs, increasing awareness of space activities in Ireland, upgrading skills, and creating a sustainable Earth observation sector in the country.
Dr. Niall Smyth, head of research at Munster Technological University (MTU) and Higher Education Institution representative on the steering group for the strategy, stresses the critical importance of this strategy, stating that it was a big step for Ireland. Now, three years later, the country has achieved 95% of the set targets, which is a significant accomplishment.
Conor Sheehan, a member of the ESA delegation, confirms that the Irish government’s announcement of further funding for ESA, amounting to €125 million up to 2027, signals its intention to support and grow this sector further. As a result, Ireland is becoming a key player in the European space program, with the potential to contribute more innovative technologies in the future.
Ireland’s fast-growing space industry and its government’s investment in ESA
Ireland’s government investment in the European Space Agency (ESA) has increased from €19.8 million in 2020 to over €30 million in 2022, according to a DETM spokeswoman. This investment has led to a 39% increase in Irish-based companies engaged with ESA, growing from 70 in 2019 to 97 in 2022. Industry co-investment has also increased from €3.3 million in 2020 to over €4.8 million in 2022. This growth is encouraging the government to invest more, as Danny Gleeson, Chief Commercial Officer at Realtrá Space, confirms that they saw a return on investments of up to seven times the investment.
The government agencies’ focus in Ireland is not to develop a space sector per se, but rather to develop the downstream business. The DETM spokeswoman explains that significant opportunities are emerging from using earth observation (EO) data to develop high-value services. Therefore, the focus is to harness new opportunities for Irish enterprises by capitalising on this fast-growing market.
“We’re not trying to develop a space sector per se, in Ireland,” says Conor Sheehan, a member of the ESA delegation. “We have several companies that are devoted and dedicated to space, and they do it extremely well.” Instead, the government is looking to develop a downstream business and capitalise on the market vertical, which is like any other vertical.
The upstream business is also thriving in Ireland. Several companies have pivoted their businesses to the space sector, including Líos, an acoustics company that pivoted its business for French rocket company Ariane to provide a new variation of its acoustic protection in the rocket’s fairing, and Innalabs, which provides its hardware and systems to the space sector.
In Ireland, funding supports are available for those interested in pursuing new downstream business ideas. The Irish ESA Business Incubation Centre initiative, run by the ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland, is based at Tyndall Institute in UCC. The chief executive of the initiative, Peter Finnegan, says that they are targeting companies to develop downstream applications.
As Sheehan notes, Ireland needs to be much quicker in developing technology as they face up to the realities of what is called New Space and Space 4.0. He believes that Ireland can do really well in the space industry by spinning technologies from existing research groups or terrestrial companies. He concludes that “We can be more than the sum of our parts on this, and actually do really well.”
The democratisation of space and the potential for a space cluster in Ireland
The growth of the space sector in Ireland is not solely attributed to the country’s membership in the European Space Agency (ESA), according to Dr Niall Smyth, head of research at Munster Technological University (MTU). The space business behaviour has changed, with private companies being asked to provide solutions on shorter timescales to commercial problems. In addition, the EU space programme is encouraging small to medium enterprises, and various new financing models have come in to help push new business ideas along.
The downstream business in Ireland is not limited to ESA-related activities. Several companies, such as Plasma Bond, Tisa Labs, Agritech Space, Provi, and Danu Sports, a wearable sports analysis equipment provider, have received support from the Irish ESA Business Incubation Centre initiative. Mark McConville, chief executive of Mindseed, has been assisting companies to leverage ESA funding since 2011. He believes that there has been a democratisation of space and that more companies are beginning to see the benefits of integrating space assets.
However, Michael Martin, engineering manager of Realtrá Space, believes that a space cluster may support further sector development. There is no focal point where all the space companies come together and share their challenges and experiences. Dr Ronan Wall, manager of the UCD Centre for Space Research, agrees that a space cluster would be beneficial for the space industry going forward. He believes that Ireland can be more than the sum of its parts in the space industry and that a recognised international space cluster would be great.
Danny Gleeson, chief commercial officer at Realtrá Space, stresses the importance of public awareness of Irish space activities both nationally and internationally. He believes that Irish people have done incredible things in space and that it is beneficial to the country.
All the Irish space players are looking forward to the publication of an updated national space strategy and the possibility of a space cluster. For now, Enterprise Ireland (EI) will continue to champion Ireland’s capabilities in both upstream and downstream space activities.
Irish Space Association to boost international recognition
Conor Sheehan, a member of the ESA delegation, is working with industry partners to create the Irish Space Association to further promote the quality of space activity in Ireland. Sheehan believes that there is a lot of excellent work being done in the country, and the association will help get the message out more fully. He is confident that there are great opportunities for individuals in the future.
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