Space, Defence and Technological Sovereignty

The Casa dell'Aviatore in Rome hosted the fourth meeting of the General States of the Space Economy on 21 September, an event promoted by the Parliamentary Space Economy Inter-group in collaboration with numerous entities including the Italian Space Agency and the Lazio Region. The event brought together representatives from institutions, industry and research to discuss challenges related to security and competitiveness in the space sector.

The Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso sent a video message of opening, while the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Italian Space Agency participated in the proceedings. In his speech, the Chief of Staff of the Military Air Force, Air Force General Antonio Conserva, emphasized how space has transformed from an environment dedicated mainly to scientific research into a true strategic domain exposed to growing threats. The protection of space infrastructure and related services now represents a strategic priority, according to a vision shared internationally and by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto.

Critical Infrastructure and Cyber-Resilience

During the roundtable discussion, it emerged how space and cybersecurity have become transversal operational domains, increasingly linked to national security and the country's ability to face contemporary technological challenges. Participants discussed the protection of space infrastructure and the resilience of satellite systems, emphasizing the importance of developing systems that incorporate security criteria from the design phase, reducing critical dependencies and strengthening the solidity of the national industrial supply chain.

Dual-Use Technologies and Civil-Military Synergies

A specific focus was dedicated to dual-use technologies and the potential to leverage synergies between civil innovation and defence needs. Satellite telecommunications, Earth observation, navigation, artificial intelligence and orbital services constitute an ecosystem in which commercial, institutional and defence applications are increasingly interdependent and complementary.

Space Intelligence and Data Sovereignty

Broad emphasis was given to Space Domain Awareness and data sovereignty, with the aim of consolidating national capabilities for acquiring and analyzing information from space. Data, processing capacity and artificial intelligence were identified as fundamental elements to strengthen national strategic autonomy and contribute to European architectures.

The need for close collaboration between Defence, industry and research institutions was emphasized as an essential element for accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies and rapidly transforming technical progress into operational capabilities. The General States of the Space Economy 2026 will continue with another 20 thematic sessions throughout the country, involving public and private stakeholders to define shared priorities in support of Italian space policies.