European Space Agency Phi-Lab Programme Launch

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and AMBER, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, kick-off an ambitious European Space Agency programme to position Ireland as a hub for the development and manufacture of next-generation space-bound hardware.

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and AMBER, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, have officially launched the European Space Agency (ESA) Phi-Lab Ireland – a pioneering six-year programme designed to drive innovation in space technologies within companies in Ireland. 

Ireland, as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and materials science, will address the thematic area of space-optimised hardware. Phi-Lab Ireland will fund cutting-edge 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. Benefiting from the combined capabilities of two of Ireland’s leading research organisations, Phi-Lab Ireland will also 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. 

Welcoming the expansion of the European Space Agency’s Phi-Lab network to Ireland, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said “the launch of ESA’s Phi-Lab Ireland offers Irish companies a great opportunity to further develop in the areas of advanced manufacturing and materials innovation. Available to space active companies and to companies who up to now haven’t considering 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. 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. I am particularly pleased to see this degree of endeavour and innovation taking place here in Mullingar in my own constituency”.

“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. Phi-Lab Ireland will empower Irish companies to lead in the development of transformative advanced manufacturing technologies, unlocking new markets and creating high-value opportunities for the future” said Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon, on the launch of Phi-Lab Ireland as part of the expanding ESA Phi-Lab network.

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

Commenting on the launch of Phi-Lab Ireland’s first funding call, Dr. Ken Horan, Director of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IMR and Head of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland 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”.

Prof. Mick Morris, Director of the AMBER Centre added “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”.

Phi-Lab Ireland is the newest addition to an expanding pan-European network of locally hosted and administered Phi-Labs (Phi-Lab NET), each addressing a regionally important thematic area. Phi-Lab NET is being developed by the European Space Agency to accelerate innovation in the rapidly growing space sector, to ensure future competitiveness at both European and regional levels.

Speaking on Ireland’s addition to ESA Phi-Lab NET, Evelyn Kerschbaumer, Commercial Officer at the European Space Agency, 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”.

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. By bridging world-class research with commercial opportunity, this initiative strengthens Ireland’s contribution to the wider ESA ecosystem and supports our ambition to build a globally recognised space economy.”

A major event to inaugurate ESA Phi-Lab Ireland at IMR in Mullingar is planned for late 2025.

Companies interested in applying to ESA Phi-Lab Ireland’s first funding call can do so from today by visiting www.esaphilab.ie. 

About ESA Phi-Lab Ireland

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland promotes research into next generation upstream space-related science and technologies, with clear market alignment and scaling potential. As the newest addition to ESA Phi-Lab NET, Phi-Lab Ireland will facilitate the connections needed to accelerate the future of space through transformative innovation – and boost Ireland and Europe’s competitiveness, sovereignty, and leadership in the global space economy.

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. ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is formed from a local consortium representing two of Ireland's flagship research centres - Irish Manufacturing Research and the AMBER Centre – working closely with the European Space Agency’s Commercialisation Gateway network. https://www.esaphilab.ie/

About IMR

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is a leading Research and Technology Organisation providing a portfolio of research, training, and consultancy services to Industry across the following four thematic pillars: Digitisation, Sustainable manufacturing, Design for Manufacturing, and Robotics and Automation. IMR works with leading global and indigenous brands to demystify and derisk new and emerging technologies and to deliver high impact collaborative research and services to enable advanced manufacturing for a broad range of clients across Ireland’s manufacturing network. https://imr.ie/ 

About AMBER

AMBER is the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research. The Centre brings a multidisciplinary partnership between leading academics in Advanced Materials Science, BioEngineering and Industry. Working collaboratively we develop new materials and devices for the ICT, medical devices, energy and sustainable industrial technology sectors. AMBER is hosted by Trinity College Dublin, in partnership with CRANN (Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices) and the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Cork, NUI Galway, Dublin City University, Tyndall National Institute, University of Limerick, University College Dublin, the Technological University of the Shannon: Midland West and TU Dublin. https://ambercentre.ie/

Media Contact

For additional queries, to learn more about ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Ken Horan (Director of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IMR and Head of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland), please contact Dr. Robert Conway-Kenny (ESA Phi-Lab Manager) at info@esaphilab.ie

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