Tech Talk - Space: New Opportunities for Irish Business

Explore opportunities in the global space economy & discover how Irish businesses can leverage their expertise to enter this growing sector

Join Tech Industry Alliance at Blackrock Castle Observatory on Wednesday, 28 January 2027, from 7.30am–9.30am for a morning exploring how Irish companies can tap into the growing opportunities presented by the global space economy. Hear from our expert panellists, including:

• Facilitator: Dr Niall Smith, Head of Research at Munster Technological University
• Enda Keane, CEO at Treemetrics
• John O’Sullivan, Managing Director at Douglas Control and Automation
• Peter Finnegan, Manager of ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland and Head of New Ventures at Tyndall National Institute

Space is no longer just about rockets and satellites. The sector increasingly draws on technologies and expertise already well established within Irish businesses from artificial intelligence, data analytics and cyber security to automation, robotics, advanced manufacturing and Earth observation.

The event will showcase how these capabilities can translate into real commercial opportunities. Cork-based TreeMetrics, for example, has worked with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop forest monitoring solutions using satellite Earth Observation data, alongside data analytics and remote sensing technologies.

Companies such as Douglas Control & Automation, with expertise in areas including automation, robotics, systems integration, process control and advanced manufacturing, demonstrate the types of capabilities that can potentially be applied to the needs of the space supply chain.

We will also hear from ESA BIC Ireland / ESA Space Solutions Ireland, who will outline the funding, technical expertise, business support and connections available to Irish start-ups and established companies looking to enter or expand within the space sector.

Whether you are already working with space technologies or are simply curious about how your company’s existing expertise could open the door to a new market, this event will provide practical insights into where the opportunities are and how to get started.