Space industry in Ireland

Skytek

Dublin, Ireland commercial

Skytek is an Irish space-software company headquartered in Dublin, founded by Dr. Sarah Bourke and Paul Kiernan in the mid-2000s; the company describes more than two decades of space work as of its most recent public statements. It began by producing digital instruction manuals and procedures for astronaut tools and grew that work into the International Procedure Viewer, a mission-critical software system used by astronauts aboard the International Space Station to follow operational procedures, which NASA credits with improving the safety and efficiency of crew operations; the company states the system is also planned for deployment on NASA's lunar Gateway station. Skytek's space business today spans software for spacecraft operations and Earth-observation data handling, and it has also built a cybersecurity line offering situational-awareness and protection tools for space and ground infrastructure. The company has separately diversified into an insurance-technology business applying satellite Earth-observation data and AI to risk assessment and portfolio management for marine, aviation, cargo, property, cyber and energy insurers. Skytek's space-agency partners include NASA and ESA, and it also works with Airbus and insurance firms such as Aon. The company is privately held and operates internationally across Europe, the United States and Bermuda in addition to its Irish base, and is one of Ireland's few space companies with software actually in operational use aboard a crewed spacecraft.

Ubotica Technologies

Dublin, Ireland commercial

Ubotica Technologies, founded in 2017 and based in Dublin, Ireland, is a software company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions for satellite technology. The company develops and delivers AI-powered, edge computing platforms – specifically the CogniSAT product line (CRC, XE1, XE2, and NEI) – that enable onboard data processing for Earth observation satellites. This capability allows satellites to gain real-time understanding of collected data, rather than simply acting as data collectors. Ubotica’s core technology, termed SPACE:AI, focuses on fusing optical, SAR, and hyperspectral data directly on the satellite, delivering actionable intelligence in minutes. A key application highlighted is real-time vessel detection, demonstrated by the ability to identify all ships near the port of Jeddah within 90 seconds of image capture, including those employing “dark” (non-cooperative) practices. This onboard processing reduces costs and maximizes asset utilization by minimizing data downlink requirements and enabling autonomous surveillance capabilities. Ubotica has garnered recognition for its innovative work, including the 2025 SpaceNews Icon Award, shared with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Open Cosmos, for advancements in AI-powered dynamic targeting. The company has also been recognized as a laureate of the European Space Agency’s Rising Stars Award. Ubotica serves a diverse customer base including ESA, Thales, and Open Cosmos, and maintains partnerships with organizations such as NASA JPL, Intel, and Phantom Space. These collaborations demonstrate the company’s position within the growing ecosystem of advanced space technologies and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of onboard satellite intelligence.