The international conference held in Los Angeles at Villaggio Italia focused on the opportunities for the Italian system in the space economy and the prospects of public-private collaboration, especially between Italy and the United States, for future space missions. The event is part of a multi-year itinerant World Exhibition of Italian excellence, accompanying the Vespucci tour through seven more stops. Valentini emphasized Italy’s long-standing tradition in space activities and its continuous renewal, noting a government investment of EUR 7.3 billion in the Space Economy by 2026 and a recent bill regulating space access for non-governmental operators. He highlighted Italy’s excellence in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and precision mechanics, and the significance of cooperation with the USA, recently revitalized by Presidents Meloni and Biden. This partnership extends from low Earth orbit exploitation to ambitious human missions to the Moon and Mars.
Perego di Cremnago pointed out that the Space Economy's accessibility to various forms of entrepreneurship offers significant opportunities, making the sector expand globally. He stressed the importance of strengthening international public-private cooperation to enhance security, defense, and essential societal activities, and emphasized Italy’s potential to become a key player in the Space Economy. The conference highlighted Italy's role through the Air Force, with General Francesco Vestito representing the Chief of Staff General Luca Goretti, underscoring Italy’s expertise in the aerospace domain. Current trends in the space economy, focusing on collaboration and diversification, were discussed in the first panel, featuring astronaut Colonel Walter Villadei, Axiom Space Chief Astronaut Michael Lopez Alegria, Virgin Galactic Vice President Sirisha Bandla, Francesco Curia from DEAS, and Amedeo Teti from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. The second panel addressed international relations, security, and innovation in the aerospace sector, with contributions from Air Force General Roberto Vittori, Deanna Ryals from the Air Force Space Systems Command, Max Haot from Vast Space, and Frank Webb from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Villaggio Italia, an international Made in Italy exhibition, showcases Italian excellence, culture, creativity, and innovation, involving various Italian ministries and engaging with global audiences through its itinerant stops.
