Irish companies awarded 9.9m in European Space Agency contracts in 2023 [Video]

Enterprise Ireland published the ‘Space Activities in Ireland 2023’ Report, highlighting the amount Irish companies have won in terms of contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA).

By the end of 2023, 109 Irish companies were actively engaged with ESA, demonstrating the significant expansion of Ireland’s role in this high-growth industry.

In 2023, ESA awarded contracts worth €9.9m to Irish companies primarily focused on industrial activities.

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

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.

A key highlight of the year was the successful launch of the Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 (EIRSAT-1), Ireland’s first satellite, on 01 December 2023, marking a significant milestone.

EIRSAT-1 is a student-led project from University College Dublin (UCD) and was developed in collaboration with Irish technology companies.

Commenting on the 2023 report, Minister Emer Higgins, Minister of State …