University College Dublin has received €1 million in funding for helping “take Ireland into the space age” following the successful launch of the country’s first ever space mission, EIRSAT-1.

The University is one of five higher education institutions to share in €5 million in Performance Funding from the Higher Education Authority for their contributions to national strategy and policy priorities.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD congratulated the awardees, saying they demonstrate “the significant and valuable impact that our higher education and research system has on all aspects of our economy, environment and society”.

He added that the recognised initiatives range from rethinking inclusive digital education and tackling disadvantage, to fostering entrepreneurship, supporting start-ups, promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, training future engineers and scientists, and advancing Ireland’s space ambitions.

Introduced in 2019, Performance Funding aims to reward positive performance in Ireland’s higher education and research system.

UCD collaborated with the European Space Agency to launch EIRSAT-1 in 2023. Built by students and faculty under Professor Lorraine Hanlon, Director of UCD’s Centre for Space Research, the project trained more than 50 students in physics, engineering, computer science and mathematics. The satellite successfully demonstrated Ireland’s ability to design, build and operate a spacecraft, strengthening national expertise and laying the foundation for future growth in the Irish space sector.

Other institutions awarded €1 million alongside UCD include Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. Each submitted a case study highlighting initiatives that have made a measurable contribution to national priorities, which were evaluated by an independent expert panel.

Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the HEA, said the awards highlight the diverse ways higher education institutions respond to national priorities, global challenges and community needs. He noted the strength of partnerships and collaborations across Ireland and beyond and said lessons from the process will inform future work across the sector.