Major company with plans to deliver the 'internet in space' announces Clare expansion

The Shannon Airport Group are pleased to announce that leading technology firm Mbryonics has leased block R in their Business Park, an award-winning, 40,000 square foot R&D facility, designed for advanced manufacturing.

Mbryonics is a Galway-based leader in photonic satellite optical communication networks. They have recently opened a new Photon-1 volume manufacturing facility in Dangan and announced the creation of 125 new jobs over the next two years in Galway.

A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group said this news "is a testament to Mbryonics’ ambition and commitment to driving innovation and economic growth across the West of Ireland."

Mbryonics currently has a headcount of 100 employees and these new roles will be in the areas of production, engineering, sales and marketing support. This represents a major step forward in its mission to deliver the 'internet in space' and strengthen Ireland’s role in the global space economy.

READ MORE: 'Luxury Ireland Showcase' puts County Clare in the spotlight

Founded in 2014, it has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of satellite optical and photonic transport systems, working with clients in the public and private sectors. 

The Photon-1 launch builds on more than a decade of collaboration between Mbryonics, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Ireland’s ESA Delegation. 

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said: “Mbryonics’ Photon-1 facility is a landmark for Ireland’s space sector and a direct outcome of more than a decade of close collaboration between the company, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Ireland’s ESA Delegation. This is another great example of how partnering with ESA has enabled the development of world-leading technology here in Ireland that is now ready for large-scale production and global deployment. It demonstrates how Ireland’s membership of ESA not only drives innovation but also creates high-value jobs, boosts exports and positions our country at the forefront of the fast-growing global space economy. We look forward to continuing these important partnerships between industry in Ireland and ESA.”

John Mackey, CEO Mbryonics, said “We are proud to open Photon-1, the first of our volume production facilities, right here on the Wild Atlantic Space Coast in Galway. As a Galwegian, it is especially meaningful to see our home city become a hub for cutting edge space technology. We are deeply grateful to Minister Burke, Enterprise Ireland, and the Irish Delegation to ESA for joining us on this landmark day, and to our dedicated team, investors and customers whose commitment made this possible. Photon-1 is not just a commercial milestone for Mbryonics – it is a symbol of Ireland’s 50-year journey with ESA and our nation’s growing role in the trillion-Euro global space economy. Mbryonics is strategically positioned to supply the technologies, infrastructure, operations, and talent that will power this new space era. For us, Photon-1 is just the beginning – the launch pad for what comes next as we look forward to continuing to grow and scale, with our photon-2 site already secured in Shannon for high volume manufacturing with a capacity for production of more than 5,000 units a year.”

"We extend our warm congratulations to the Mbryonics team today and look forward to welcoming them into our community of pioneering companies in the Shannon Airport Business Park in the coming years," a spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group concluded.