To infinity and beyond, Ireland’s Space Sector continues to grow

Minister of State with special responsibility for Employment, Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon has welcomed the publication of the Fourth Progress Report on the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019–2025, highlighting another year of strong growth and international success for Ireland’s space sector.

Welcoming the report, Minister Dillon said:

“Ireland’s space sector continues to grow in scale and international reputation, driven by the strength of our innovative enterprises and our long-standing partnership with the European Space Agency. Ireland’s €170 million commitment to ESA programmes to 2030, agreed at the Council of Ministers in November 2025, will support the continued expansion of space-focused enterprises in the years ahead.”

The report confirms significant progress across the Strategy’s objectives. with 15 of the  19 priority actions now completed and the remaining actions progressing as part of the Government’s commitment to developing a strong, innovative and economically sustainable space-active industry in Ireland.

Ireland’s Space Sector continues to grow

Government investment in the Irish space sector increased significantly in 2024, with €32.17 million allocated to programmes with the European Space Agency (ESA). This represents a 43% increase since the launch of the Strategy in 2019. The investment delivered strong returns. In 2024:

• Irish companies and researchers secured 55 ESA contracts valued at €24.56 million,
• 116 Irish companies were actively engaged in ESA programmes by year end, a 66% increase since 2019, and surpassing the Strategy’s original goal of 100 companies.

Ireland’s industry capability was further strengthened through targeted skills development initiatives. During 2024, Space Industry Skillnet delivered 1,088 training days to 389 participants across 102 companies, supporting the continued growth and competitiveness of Ireland’s space-focused enterprises.

Irish companies also maintained a strong international presence throughout the year, participating in key global trade events forging new partnerships, and strengthening Ireland’s reputation as an agile and innovative contributor to the global space economy.

Together, these achievements highlight Ireland’s expanding footprint in the global space economy and demonstrate the success of strategic collaboration with the European Space Agency in driving enterprise growth and innovation.

Concluding Minister Dillon said:

“As we look to the next phase of Ireland’s space strategy, we do so with ambition and confidence. Our companies, researchers and innovators have shown that Ireland can lead in this rapidly evolving sector, and the Government will continue to back that ambition with investment, partnership, and a clear strategic vision for the years ahead.”

Work on the fifth and final progress report under the current Strategy is now underway. Preparatory work has also begun on the next iteration of the National Space Strategy for Enterprise, beginning with a preliminary scoping exercise.

This process will include public consultation and extensive stakeholder engagement, helping to shape the future direction of Ireland’s enterprise-led activities in the global space sector.

The progress report can be accessed here: National Space Strategy 2019-2025: Fourth progress report

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