-Future of space technology at Italy Pavilion-

OSAKA, May 19, 2025 /ANSA=Kyodo JBN/--

The fast evolution of space technology and the ‘new space economy’ requires constant attention towards innovation and, in this field, startups play a key role, introducing innovative solutions that stimulate competition and promoting an environment of creativity and cooperation.

However, investments are necessary and this is where the tech talk ‘The future of space technology’ came into play, presented at the Italy Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka during the week dedicated to Puglia.

The event explored the public and private initiatives aiming to help space startups become successful, discussing the best policies to boost startups and space technologies.

“Finding constant sources of funding is clearly a very difficult task for startups, also because there is often a misalignment  between their vision and the understanding investors have of their business model”, explained Theresa Mulloy, the head of communication and foreign investments at regional agency Puglia Sviluppo.

However the talk also highlighted “great opportunities”.

Mulloy praised the Puglia Region for “putting at the disposal of startups support tools, funding, especially during the first phase”, added Mulloy.

A key operator is Esa Bic (Business incubation centre), in Brindisi, a business innovation centre of the space agency, based in Puglia, which was present at the Italy Pavilion with its coordinator Mario Erario.

A business incubator coordinated by the Aerospace Technology District (DTA), the only one promoted by the European Space Agency in southern Italy following a tender won by DTA, it offers a series of services and tools supporting startups in the space sector.

The support program for startups offers a series of incentives, like a non-repayable grant of 50,000 euros, as well as the support of a team of professionals with technical and managerial experience to overcome the obstacles, and access to avantgarde labs.

And one of the highlights of Puglia is Rea Space, which unveiled to the guests present an innovative intravehicular spacesuit which won the prestigious Gold Compass prize.

Intravehicular spacesuits, explained Flavio Augusto Gentile, CEO and co-founder of Rea Space, “are suits used inside space shuttles while extravehicular spacesuits are used outside”.

The suit presented “will be possibly used for planetary activities, therefore with an eye on future missions to the Moon or Mars”, added Gentile.

The intravehicular spacesuit is special, explained the other founder of Rea Space, Ilario Lagravinese, as it was “developed with a specific technology that allows to fight muscle and bone mass loss” which  astronauts usually experience during medium-term and extended missions in space due to microgravity.

Innovit (Italian innovation and culture hub), the new Italian innovation centre in the Silicon Valley, was also present thanks to which “we have the opportunity of further promoting the Puglia region and its startups in the world”, explained Alberto Acito, its director.

“The opportunity is given to us in particular by this in-depth look at the aerospace sector”, stressed Acito, which is one of the “six vertical sectors which we dedicate at Innovit to the world of startups and the attraction of investments and we obviously focus on the great opportunities which the region offers with its clusters, its companies and also its universities to generate innovation in this strategic sector”.

The event was also attended by Aya Mori, vice-director of acceleration program team Jetro - Startup support division, Francois Poncin, Corporate planning officer at the Spacetide foundation, Shogo Onishi, CEO and founder of Space Quarters, and Kaz Ishigame, CEO and co-founder of Cislunar technologies.

According to the World Economic Forum’s latest estimates, the space economy is expected to generate a value of 1,800 billion dollars by 2035, compared to the 630 billion of 2023, with an average annual growth of 9%, thanks to the constant development and improvement of access to space technology, including communication, positioning and navigation, and observation services of the Earth. And Puglia is ready.

 "Editorial initiative co-funded by the European Union for the Puglia Region with resources of PR Puglia FESR - FSE+ 2021-2027"

Source: Apulia Region