Ireland’s first European Space Agency ‘Phi-Lab’ launched as national platform for space technology development

Ireland has made a leap in the evolution of its space, innovation and advanced manufacturing ecosystem with the official launch of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, the country’s first European Space Agency (ESA) ‘Phi-Lab’, headquartered at Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) in Mullingar.

The new facility, run in collaboration with the AMBER Centre at Trinity College Dublin, is to be Ireland’s national platform for space technology development.

The launch is part of a wider national commitment to the European Space Agency, backed by a Dept of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment investment of €170 million to ESA over the next five years.

The establishment of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland in Mullingar represents a flagship element of that investment, translating policy ambition into tangible national infrastructure designed to accelerate space-enabled innovation, industrial competitiveness and high-value job creation.

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland was formally launched by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, who unveiled a commemorative plaque at IMR’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab.

Produced using a space-grade additive manufactured material mounted on a local piece of 6,500-year-old bog oak, the plaque heralds Ireland’s formal entry into ESA’s elite network of applied space-innovation centres, and reflects the country’s growing role in shaping Europe’s future space ambitions and technologies.

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland forms part of the European Space Agency’s Phi-Lab initiative, whose mission is to bring research closer to commercialisation by bridging disruptive research and commercial needs.

In response to needs from the commercial world, the Phi-Lab Network matures technologies in advanced manufacturing, materials discovery, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and robotics.

Those technologies have direct application across in-space and terrestrial manufacturing, agriculture, energy systems, climate innovation, and critical infrastructure, positioning the new Mullingar-based centre at the intersection of space research and real-world industrial impact.

At the launch, Barry Kennedy, CEO of IMR, said. “Today marks a significant milestone in Ireland’s space and innovation ambition. IMR is proud to lead the launch of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, establishing it as a national platform for space technology development. This facility positions Ireland at the forefront of European space-enabled innovation, where advanced manufacturing, AI and data-driven technologies can be developed, tested and commercialised for global impact. Ultimately, this is about translating world-class research into real economic and societal value.”

Minister Burke said the launch reflects Ireland’s accelerating momentum within Europe’s space and Deep Tech sectors. “ESA Phi-Lab Ireland strengthens Ireland’s position, and the midlands region, as a hub for advanced research, innovation and high-value enterprise. It demonstrates our long-term commitment to supporting cutting-edge technologies that will drive competitiveness, create skilled jobs and deliver solutions to global challenges, from advanced manufacturing to industrial transformation. The government’s €170 million commitment to ESA over the next five years is about ensuring Ireland plays a leading role in Europe’s space future.”

At the event, Minister Burke announced the first supported companies by ESA Phi-Lab Ireland – MBRYONICS and Ubotica Technologies – both having been selected from a highly-competitive ‘Open Call’ last year. Minister Burke also announced the second Open Call for Proposals, which will continue to fund cutting-edge research in Irish industry across the entire life-cycle from materials discovery and testing to the scaled production of components optimised for the unique and challenging environment of space.

The second ‘open call’ will welcome projects from space-active companies seeking to advance their position in the European space market and/or bring their innovations to larger terrestrial markets. The open call will also welcome projects from companies that in the past have never considered their products for the space sector, with expert support provided during the entire application stage.

The launch comes at a time of rapid growth for Ireland’s space and space-enabled innovation sector. Since the publication of Ireland’s ‘National Space Strategy for Enterprise’ in 2019, there are now 120 space-active companies working with ESA in Ireland.

This industry momentum is further reflected in an increasing volume of Irish companies providing technologies and solutions to the commercial space sector globally, highlighting Ireland’s increasing contribution to essential space infrastructure, and the importance of initiatives like ESA Phi-Lab Ireland to supporting Irish industry compete internationally.

Director of Technology at ESA, and head of the European Space Research and Technology Centre, Dietmar Pilz, said: “ESA Phi-Lab in Ireland is a powerful example of how Europe is strengthening its technology by bringing cutting-edge research closer to industrial applications. With ESA Phi Lab Ireland, ESA is investing in the technologies that will elevate the future of Europe’s space sector, strengthening industrial competitiveness while ensuring that innovation for space delivers value far beyond it. It reinforces ESA’s commitment to fostering excellence across its member states and to ensuring that innovation developed for space delivers real benefits for industry, society and Europe’s long term competitiveness.”

Alan Dillon, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with special responsibility for Employment, Small Business and Retail, added: “Ireland’s growing leadership in space-enabled innovation is reflected in the establishment of ESA Phi Lab Ireland. This new national platform strengthens our position at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, next-generation research, and European collaboration. By investing in cutting-edge technologies and deepening our partnership with the European Space Agency, Ireland is laying the foundations for high-value jobs, industrial competitiveness, and solutions that will benefit society for decades to come.”

Philip Thomas, head of the ScaleUp Programme Division in ESA’s Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness Directorate, commenting further on the significance of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland and Ireland’s role in the European space innovation ecosystem, said: “Through being part of the ScaleUp Phi-Lab network, the ESA Phi-Lab in Ireland is able to help companies in Ireland and across Europe to reach their full commercial potential by providing targeted and relevant support for their most innovative proposals.”

The launch event brought together government, industry leaders, technology experts, regional stakeholders, and leading Irish and European Space players, underlining the national and international significance of the new Phi-Lab and reinforcing Ireland’s emergence as a strategic hub in the space and advanced manufacturing landscape.