Mullingar's role in developing space technologies

Positioning Ireland as a hub for “the development and manufacture of next-generation space-bound hardware” is the lofty goal of a Westmeath based research and technology organisation.

Mullingar's Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and AMBER, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, have embarked on an ambitious European Space Agency programme aimed at developing Ireland's role in space travel.

The two organisations have officially launched the European Space Agency (ESA) Phi-Lab Ireland, a pioneering six-year programme designed to drive innovation in space technologies in Irish companies.

Ireland is recognised as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and materials science, and it's hoped the new focus will see further developments in “space-optimised” hardware.

Phi-Lab Ireland will fund cutting-edge research for materials discovery and testing, and assist the scaled production of components for the challenging environment of space.

Benefiting from the combined capabilities of IMR and AMBER, Phi-Lab Ireland will offer access to expert mentorship and training programmes, state-of-the-art research infrastructure, comprehensive networking opportunities, and significant seed funding for projects up to 24-months.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said the launch of ESA’s Phi-Lab Ireland offers Irish companies “a great opportunity” to develop in the areas of advanced manufacturing and materials innovation.

“Available to space active companies and to companies who up to now haven’t considered entering into this market, Phi-Lab Ireland will offer expert mentoring and training programmes, access to state of the art research infrastructure and critical seed funding up to €400k,” Minister Burke said.

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said the location of the research and technology organisation was a source of local pride: “I am particularly pleased to see this degree of endeavour and innovation taking place here in Mullingar in my own constituency.”

Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon, said developing space technologies has wider applications: “The initiative reflects our continuing partnership with the European Space Agency and our shared ambition to harness cutting-edge technologies for economic growth and global impact.”

Phi-Lab Ireland have opened their first funding call for research project proposals from Irish companies seeking to grow in Ireland’s developing space ecosystem.

Unique to Phi-Lab Ireland, projects are welcome from companies who in the past may have never considered their products for the space sector, and also current space-active companies seeking to advance their position in this market and/or bring their innovations to larger terrestrial markets.

Dr Ken Horan, Director of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IMR and Head of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland spoke of the importance of supporting research in this field: “ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is a unique opportunity for Irish SMEs, start-ups, and researchers to become leaders in space-focused innovation.

“Today the space sector offers opportunities akin to those presented by the MedTech sector a few decades ago and before that, ICT manufacturing. These have become cornerstones of the Irish economy.”

Prof Mick Morris, Director of the AMBER Centre reflected on the potential of the supports: “AMBER are delighted to partner with IMR to support Irish industry and researchers in exploring new commercial opportunities in the space sector. This activity will build on our strong foundation in supporting research in materials science important to the Irish and European economy.

“To date, we have built a partner portfolio of over 50 companies and managed over 100 collaborative projects. Together with IMR we span the full life cycle from material discovery and development through material validation to generative design and the development of the high-volume manufacturing processes necessary for next generation space-bound hardware whilst maximising and improving the sustainability of those processes”.

Key research areas targeted by this funding call include Advanced Materials Research, Additive Manufacturing, Structural Analysis and Simulation, and Integration of Smart Materials.

Speaking on behalf of Enterprise Ireland, Conor Sheehan, Irish Delegation to ESA, said: “Phi-Lab Ireland marks an exciting new chapter for Ireland’s space sector. It will foster a vibrant hub for advanced manufacturing and materials innovation, supporting Irish industry to both enter and lead in the fast-growing global space market.

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is a structured “under the one roof” centre designed to accelerate companies on their space-optimised technology development cycle, and Phi-Lab Ireland covers the full lifecycle from materials development and characterisation, to design and large-scale manufacturing.