Irish space‑tech secures €26.7m in ESA contracts in 2025

Irish space‑technology companies recorded a “record” year in 2025, winning €25.3 million in contracts from the European Space Agency (ESA) and an additional €1.3 million from research organisations, according to a report released by the Government and Enterprise Ireland on 6 November.

The report also notes that Ireland has increased its ESA investment commitment to more than €170 million for the period 2026‑2030. In 2024, Irish firms earned €24 million in ESA contracts.

Key developments in the sector

Galway‑based Mbroynics, which specialises in photonic technology and satellite optical communications, opened a new manufacturing facility that will create 125 jobs over two years and has added a second 40,000 sq ft plant in Shannon to meet rising demand. The company was selected for the strategic European partnership delivering part of ESA’s Hydron programme, the world’s first fully optical multi‑orbit transport network.

Dublin’s Réaltra supplied the payload interface unit for ESA’s Plato mission and provided camera systems for Ariane 6’s fourth commercial flight of the year. The ESA Business Incubation Centre Ireland secured 15 new incubation contracts and one Spark Funding contract, while Ireland’s first ESA Phi‑Lab was established at the Irish Manufacturing Research facility in Mullingar.

Minister of State for Employment, Small Businesses and Retail Alan Dillon, TD, said the findings underline Ireland’s growing engagement with the ESA, including his approval of participation in the ESA Space Safety Programme.

Other notable achievements include NovaUCD‑based Proveye’s partnership to deliver AI‑driven, satellite‑based precision fertiliser technology to over 1,000 dairy and beef farms, Celtonn’s contract to develop a 130 GHz amplifier for next‑generation 6G‑capable satellite systems, and Lios securing €6.25 million from the European Innovation Council accelerator to scale its advanced acoustic materials.

Source: Silicon Republic. Photo: Diana ✨ / Pexels.