Westmeath to host national platform for space technology developmentIreland 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. IMR is proud to lead the launch of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, establishing it as a national platform for space technology development. This new national platform strengthens our position at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, next-generation research, and European collaboration.

Source: Irish Independent February 13, 2026 13:28 UTC