A Universe of Opportunity

The event “A Universe of Opportunities – Different Perspectives on the Future of the Space Economy” will be held at Palazzo Farnese on April 16 at 6:15 pm. Taking part in the discussion will be:

introduce Martin Briens, Ambassador of France to Italy

Ezio Bussoletti, President E-Geos, Company dedicated to Earth observation and geospatial information;
Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of Ventures and Financing Office, European Space Agency;
Sandra Budimir, co-founder and General Partner of Expansion Ventures;

Moderator Nazareno Mario Ciccarello, Serial entrepreneur and president IE Business School alumni Club

with the support of Telespazio

The space economy is a fast-growing strategic sector, with a global market exceeding $470 billion annually and forecast to expand to $1.8 trillion by 2035 (World Economic Forum). This growth is driven by both public and private investment, with European funding rising from less than 200 million in 2019 to more than 1 billion annually over the past three years. Space applications are now essential for telecommunications, navigation, environmental monitoring and security. New business models are emerging in areas such as space debris removal, in-orbit manufacturing, and the lunar economy, while geopolitics reinforces space’s role in defense and strategic resilience.

For more than 50, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been a key player, funding research, promoting ecosystem development, and fostering public-private collaboration. France and Italy play a leading role in the European space economy, with world-leading companies and structured cooperation within the Space Alliance, consisting of Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, a joint venture between the French group Thales and the Italian Leonardo.

This roundtable provides an opportunity to explore the dynamics of this growing sector, analyzing the synergies between the two countries and future prospects in a European and global context.

Registration is required by clicking HERE