UL-IMR Additive Manufacturing Partnership
Collaborative academic-industry partnership developing Ireland's first 3D-printed liquid rocket engine (Lúin of Celtchar) using metal additive manufacturing for integrated cooling channels and rapid aerospace prototyping.
- CEO / Founder
- Barry Kennedy
- Team Size
- 1001-5000
- Stage
- Early Stage
- Total Funding
- €5.7M
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- Government of Ireland; Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; i4Trust
Technology & Products
Key Products
Lúin of Celtchar 2kN liquid rocket engine; Metal AM research and development services; Aerospace component design and prototyping
Technological Advantage
Verified advantage: Metal AM enables intricate internal cooling channels in rocket engines. Defensible through institutional knowledge and specialized facilities. Replicable by other research institutions with similar resources.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides access to advanced metal AM capabilities and research expertise for developing complex aerospace components with internal geometries impossible via conventional manufacturing, while training next-generation engineers.
How They Differentiate
Not a commercial entity but a research partnership; differs from commercial AM service bureaus by focusing on aerospace research, education, and sovereign capability building rather than profit-driven production.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace research institutions, student rocketry teams, sovereign aerospace supply chain developers
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense; Education; Research
Competitors
San Diego State University-SLM Solutions partnership; Auburn University-NASA NCAME partnership
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
The ULAS HiPR student team has grown to over 100 students across aeronautical, mechanical, software, and design engineering disciplines since its founding in 2022. The partnership has developed Ireland's first additively manufactured liquid rocket engine and gained acceptance into the prestigious Race2Space 2026 International Propulsion competition.
Major Milestones
2022: ULAS HiPR student team established; 2025/2026: Designed and manufactured Ireland's first additively manufactured liquid rocket engine (Lúin of Celtchar); Accepted into Race2Space 2026 International Propulsion competition
Notable Customers
FactoryXChange 2.0 (FXC 2.0); Race2Space 2026 International Propulsion competition