.jpg)
Statement by UCD’s Professor Orla Feely on the Publication of Ireland's First National Space Strategy for Enterprise
Commenting on the publication of Ireland's first National Space Strategy for Enterprise (2019-2025) Professor Orla Feely, University College Dublin (UCD) Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said, “I warmly welcome today’s publication by Minister John Halligan TD of the National Space Strategy for Enterprise which sets out the Government’s vision for developing a strong and sustainable space industry in Ireland and preparing our talented and skilled students for the jobs of the future.”
“I specifically welcome the ambition of this strategy to place Ireland at the forefront of the utilisation of space-derived data, which is having a transformative global impact across all sectors, underpinning research into most pressing societal challenges, such as climate change, food security and air pollution.”
“In particular UCD welcomes the goal to double the value of contracts won through the EU Horizon Programmes in space related activities which will help to transform the enterprise space sector in Ireland. The creation of an interdepartmental Space Enterprise Coordination Group is also a welcomed and significant step towards realising Ireland’s space ambitions.”
She added, “The emergence of Space 4.0 will create a wealth of opportunities for Irish enterprises to build on our research base and create new opportunities for business and our graduates. However, in order to take full advantage of these opportunities, greater research investment is necessary to enable the growth of the space industry and increase economic return for the country.”
She concluded, “UCD has a distinguished history of astrophysics and space research dating from the 1960s and continuing to the present day with the development of EIRSAT-1. We now look forward to working with the Government and other stakeholders to support the delivery of the objectives outlined in this strategy.”
John Halligan TD, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, launched the strategy at an event held today at the DCU Alpha Campus in Glasnevin.
ENDS
19 June 2019
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, UCD Research and Innovation, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: +353 1 716 3712.