Enterprise Ireland
Ireland has a long-established history of astronomy and space research. In recent years, Ireland has developed a thriving space industry and research community.
Ireland manages its investment in space primarily through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) and Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland co-ordinates Ireland’s industrial and research participation in the programmes of the European space Agency (ESA) and the European Union. Enterprise Ireland’s role is to provide a source of expertise for Irish companies in developing and executing space strategies, as well as being a point of reference for the international space industry when they want to identify relevant sources of space-related expertise within Ireland. Ireland’s National Space Strategy for Enterprise, published in 2019, outlines the Government’s vision for Ireland to develop ‘An economically sustainable and expanding space-active industry, delivering quality jobs for the economy of tomorrow’.
Irish industrial capabilities in space technology are highly diverse, including structures, materials, microelectronics, photonics, telecommunications, RF (Radio Frequency) and life sciences There is also a growing number of Irish companies active in the “downstream” sector in developing products for the related ground segment systems as well as end-user equipment, services and applications which utilise space-based systems. Opportunities exist for Irish companies in developing and adapting technologies for the commercial space market, technology spin-out from space to non-space and in developing innovative applications and services that utilise space systems.
Overall, the role of the ESA/Horizon Europe-Space team at Enterprise Ireland is to work with Irish industry and academics to develop strategies to exploit opportunities both in institutional space programmes and in the commercial space market. Read more
The Space Community is primarily focused on addressing the research and innovation topics in the Industry sub cluster of Horizon Europe Cluster 4, ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. Read more
The National Contact Point for Space in Ireland is:
Barry Jennings
Barry.Jennings(at)enterprise-ireland.com