A new national strategy introduced by the government is aimed at ensuring that Ireland’s expanding space-active industry and research institutes will get strategic support in the future as activity in the sector expands.

R&D minister John Halligan (pictured) said:  “I am very proud to be launching Ireland’s first ever Space Strategy for Enterprise. Space-active Irish companies have become increasingly successful within European Space Agency and EU programmes in recent years.  As the space economy continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate, there is a growing opportunity for Irish companies to participate. This strategy puts in place a framework for a greater Irish involvement, and enhanced success at a global level.”

According to the European Investment Bank, the international space sector has grown by an average of 6.7% per annum between 2005 and 2017, almost twice the 3.5 % average yearly growth of the global economy.

In parallel, the capabilities of space-oriented enterprises in Ireland have progressed significantly, with the number of companies engaged in contract work with ESA growing from 35 in 2008 to 67 in 2018, supported by Ireland’s membership in international organisations including the ESA, the European Union space programmes and EUMETSAT.

In Association with

The strategy includes five pillars, including investment, strengths and opportunities, governance, talent, and international engagement, and lays out 19 key actions to achieve its goals. These include:

• Mobilisation of the Project Ireland ‘Space Technologies Programme’ to develop space focused initiatives, including funding mechanisms, delivered through DBEI Agency Programmes
• Establishment of a Space Data Hub to provide access to data from European and other third-party sources to support the development of data analytics skills
• The development of a Space Enterprise Coordination Group, comprised of Government bodies, to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits Ireland’s investment in space can offer for public service organisations.

The strategy was launched at an event at DCU Alpha, the university’s commercial innovation campus. Some of the companies and organisations present were Techworks Marine, which provides real-time marine monitoring data networks and has been developing an earth observation divisioon for the last ten years; Réaltra Space Systems Engineering, which makes low-cost electronic systems for the growing global space market, with a focus on the expanding global micro-launchers and small satellite sectors; and mBryonics, a laser communications company which specialises in the design, engineering, manufacture, installation and operation of satellite optical transport network (OTN) backbone infrastructure and associated photonics technology.

The strategy is ambitious. It sets out six goals to be achived within the next six years:

• Double the space related revenue and employment in space-active Irish companies
• Support 100 companies to benefit from ESA engagement
• Double the value of contracts won through the EU Horizon programmes in space-related activities
• Increase industry, public and international awareness of space and Ireland’s activities in space
• Develop and attracting talent for space-active and related industries
• Develop a sustainable Earth Observation services sector based on advanced data analytics capability.

Space Industry Skillnet, supported by Irish Space Industry Group and Higher Education Institutions, said it will develop targeted training programmes.

Tracey Donnery, executive director at Skillnet Ireland, commented: “In a dynamic industry like the space sector, it is important that all companies invest in upskilling to develop the highly skilled workforce necessary for business growth and increasing employment within the wider sector."

Danny Gleeson, member of the National Space Strategy steering group, added: “I think it’s important for groups of like-minded companies in a sector who are finding it difficult to raise the skill levels of their staff. It is imperative they come together, identify a common need and deliver it through a Skillnet.”