The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Phi-Lab Ireland has officially launched its first funding call to support companies researching ground-breaking advanced materials and manufacturing for upstream applications. The call marks the latest critical step for Ireland to support Europe’s leadership role in the global space economy.
Strategically located across two sites in Ireland’s Midlands Region (Mullingar) and Capital City (Dublin), ESA Phi-Lab Ireland will be operated by two internationally renowned research organisations – Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and the AMBER Centre at Trinity College Dublin.
Leveraging Ireland’s multi-decade experience as a global leader in advanced materials and manufacturing for the MedTech, Pharmaceutical, and ICT manufacturing sectors, ESA Phi-Lab Ireland will combine the resources and competencies of IMR and AMBER to become Europe’s newest competence centre for next generation space-optimised hardware. Benefiting especially from the combined research infrastructure of both organisations, ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is well positioned to support research 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.
Speaking on Ireland’s addition to ESA Phi-Lab NET, Commercial Officer at the European Space Agency, Evelyn Kerschbaumer said “as part of the ScaleUp Programme under the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness, the European Space Agency (ESA) is establishing a dynamic network of ESA Phi-Labs across Europe. We are pleased to welcome the Irish Phi-Lab to this expanding network. The launch of the Phi-Lab Ireland is a testimonial to ESA’s and Ireland’s joint commitment to push innovation in space technologies and drive economic growth. Phi-Lab Ireland will enable Irish companies to generate innovation, unlock new markets and commercial opportunities, making tomorrow’s technologies available for today’s world”.
Similar to the other National ESA Phi-Labs, the mechanism of support for ESA Phi-Lab Ireland will be through a competitive application process, with the provision of comprehensive mentorship, training, and networking opportunities, supplemented with significant innovation seed funding to Ireland’s most innovative companies. ESA Phi-Lab Ireland’s first Open Call was published on Monday 16 June, and will accept applications until Tuesday 16 September.
Welcoming the expansion of the European Space Agency’s Phi-Lab network to Ireland, Government of Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said “working in partnership with ESA, IMR and AMBER, two of Ireland’s leading research organisations, will strengthen the capability of the growing Irish space eco-system and I look forward to Irish companies taking their place in the globally competitive space sector”.
Government of Ireland Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon also added “the establishment of ESA’s Phi-Lab in Ireland marks a pivotal moment in our journey to position Ireland at the forefront of space innovation. 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”.
Despite Ireland’s pedigree in supporting ESA Missions, ESA Phi-Lab Ireland intends to support research-active companies who in the past may have never considered their products or innovations for the space sector, while also supporting current space-active companies seeking to advance their position in this market, and/or to bring their innovations to larger terrestrial markets.
Concluding, Director of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IMR and Head of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, Ken Horan said “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. We want to see Ireland equivalently recognised as a global leader in the Space sector and are building a national competence centre to advance this ambition”.
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