ESA funding for Irish companies more than doubles to €24m in 2024
Irish companies secured a record €24m in European Space Agency (ESA) funding in 2024, more than double the €9.9m funding awarded the previous year.
A total of 116 Irish firms have secured ESA contracts since the launch of the Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment's National Space Strategy for Enterprise in 2019.
The new Space Activities in Ireland report highlights progress for Ireland's space industry made last year with the launch of Ubotica’s AI-powered CogniSAT-6 satellite, Réaltra’s flight systems on ESA’s Ariane 6 launcher and ÉireComposites’ advanced materials for satellite communications.
The publication coincides with the ESA Council of Ministers (CM25) taking place this week in Bremen, Germany, where the Irish delegation, led by Minister of State with responsibility for Space Enterprise Policy Alan Dillon, is participating alongside 22 other ESA Member States.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency, and of Ireland’s role as a founding member in 1975.
Despite global trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the space technology market grew to €436.7bn in 2024 and is expected to increase to €469.6bn this year.
This growth is expected to continue at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.45% through to 2034, with the market forecast to reach €896.2bn.
"The achievements of Irish companies in the European Space Agency over the past year demonstrates the extraordinary capability and ambition that exists across our space sector," said Minister Dillon.
"2024 was the most successful financial year yet for Irish space enterprises, with €24m in ESA contracts secured. This underlines the return on Ireland’s investment in ESA and the value of international collaboration in driving innovation and sustainable growth.
Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: "As we mark 50 years of Ireland’s partnership with ESA, we are not only celebrating the past but looking forward to a future where Irish innovation continues to play a central role in Europe’s journey.
"Ireland’s space sector is now firmly positioned as a hub of innovation, with companies developing technologies that reach far beyond space – from AI and quantum communications to renewable energy and climate solutions.
"Over the past decade, Ireland has seen extraordinary growth in this sector — from around 30 space-active companies to 116 today — driven by the ingenuity and ambition of Irish innovators and the work of the Irish Delegation to ESA."
The report also highlights the increasing intersection between space and sustainability, with Irish-developed solutions supporting Earth Observation, biodiversity monitoring, renewable energy, and climate adaptation.
It further showcases the growth of Ireland’s space start-up ecosystem, supported through ESA BIC Ireland and the Irish Space Association.
This year also marks Ireland’s first national presence at Space Tech Expo Europe 2025 in Bremen, Germany, last week (18-20 November), with six clients exhibiting on a shared Enterprise Ireland stand and three exhibiting independently.
Minister of State with responsibility for Space Enterprise Policy Alan Dillon. (Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
The event, which attracts over 8,000 professionals and 700 exhibitors annually, provides a valuable platform for Irish firms to showcase their technologies, build partnerships and explore new opportunities in the global space supply chain.
2025 marked the establishment of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, operated by IMR and AMBER, which will support Irish companies in developing next-generation materials and hardware for space through targeted research, mentorship and innovation funding.
(Pic: Getty Images)
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