2013 Press Releases

ESA applauds Irish marine innovations

19 Apr 2013

UCC’s Coastal and Marine Research Centre is part of the organising committee behind “Space Innovation - Powering Blue Growth” taking place today, Friday 19 April.

Irish companies and researchers have distinguished themselves in European Space Agency (ESA) programmes by developing innovative maritime services using satellite derived data in areas as diverse as marine renewables, fisheries protection, aquaculture and tourism. That’s according to Dr Volker Liebig, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes.

Dr Liebig is a key note speaker at the “Space Innovation - Powering Blue Growth” conference which is taking place in the National Maritime College of Ireland, Cork on the 18 and 19 April.  

It is an associated event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and is jointly organised by the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission (DG Maritime Affairs), Enterprise Ireland, UCC’s Coastal and Marine Research Centre, the Irish Coast Guard and the Irish Naval Service.

Seas, oceans and coasts constitute a rich and often underestimated resource. Increasingly these resources are becoming key drivers of innovation, growth and employment and also provide invaluable ecosystem services and contribute to numerous socio-economic activities. This conference will see 120 experts and specialists from across Europe gather in Cork to discuss how space technologies can contribute to increasing the maritime sectors contribution to Europe’s economic growth and recovery.  

The conference will focus on taking stock of the contribution of Space to maritime policy implementation; investigate how new scientific results and innovative services, can assist in achieving targets of the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) and assess how the European Space Agency (ESA) space development activities and the IMP can contribute to economic growth in Europe.

At his opening address to the conference this morning Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, said “There are over 40 Irish companies currently engaged in ESA programmes many of which are directly addressing global challenges such as climate change, sea-level rise, maritime surveillance and marine environmental monitoring. This is a growing industry and one which will guarantee high-quality jobs for Irish people and benefit our economy into the future”.

Minister Sherlock continued “the Government’s priority is to invest in those ESA programmes that best serve our national strategy.  Ireland is investing over €17 million per annum in ESA Space programmes and exports are projected to increase to over €56 million by 2015 with employment projected to rise to over 2,000 in the same period.  Clearly the Space sector is playing its role in Ireland’s economic recovery.

Driving increased research and innovation in Irish companies is an absolute priority for this Government and is at the heart of enterprise and jobs policies.  Ireland’s investment in ESA ensures that Irish companies develop technology innovation leading to export sales and increased employment,” the Minister added.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, who will close the two day conference, commented that “increasing maritime situational and domain awareness is paramount in promoting a more inclusive approach to maritime development amongst all actors – in EU and EEA there are over 400 competent national authorities involved in safety, security and environmental protection – space based systems are a key component of an integrated and sophisticated surveillance network .”

Outlining the potential role of space-based systems in seizing future economic opportunities in the Maritime sector, Dr. Liebig remarked “Data from satellites help identify how our oceans are used and there is a very strong demand from the marine community and operational agencies for this type of information. For example, oil spills and pollution know no borders, use of and access to shipping routes is becoming increasingly complex, and illegal activities require robust maritime surveillance capabilities.” In outlining opportunities for Ireland in particular, Dr. Liebig points to Ireland’s extensive maritime area, which makes it one of the EU’s largest member states – “This national asset is a largely untapped source of many new business opportunities for especially for Irish SMEs.” 

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

Top