Space Meetings Veneto 2025: Zaia calls for “strengthening our leadership”

Brussels – “While concerns related to tariffs and ‘Liberation Day’ resound from overseas, in Brussels, Veneto strengthens its leadership in the space economy, thanks to a solid synergy between industry, talent, academia, and institutions.” With these words, Veneto Region President Luca Zaia greeted the third edition of the Space Meetings Veneto.

“An ecosystem that positions the region as an emerging hub in the sector that is often considered the ‘fourth force’ in Italy’s aerospace industry,” Zaia said. “Numbers in hand, Veneto is the fourth largest region in the aerospace supply chain, with a network of SMEs that account for about 75 percent of the Italian space market, in line with the national structure. The president said, “The key to success lies in the ability to integrate industrial tradition and innovation, supported by major events such as the Veneto Space Meetings. Since 2023, this event has attracted international investors and professionals to Venice, consolidating the region’s role as a strategic crossroads for the space community.”

Casa Veneto in Brussels officially launched the event with the Veneto Stars challenge, with the participation of Federico Zoppas, president of the Regional Innovative Network “AIR-Aerospace Innovation And Research”; Stephane Castet, CEO of ABE Group – Advance Business Event; Marco Canaparo, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the European Union; Gianluigi Masullo, Director of the Financial Resources, Instrumental, ICT and Local Authorities Area of the Veneto Region; AnilKumar Dave, space advisor of Veneto’s Digital Agenda; and Ilenia Zambonin, Veneto Stars project contact person for Veneto Innovazione.

“If Italy is among the leading countries in investment in start-ups in the space sector, credit is also due to the Veneto region, which employs over 5,000 people in a hundred or so companies in the supply chain and continues to create new opportunities for young European innovators,” Zaia said on the sidelines. “Compared to other Italian regions, Veneto stands out for its collaborative approach between industry, academia, and institutions in an area where the aerospace sector generates significant economic value. In 2022, in fact, the aerospace and defense sector generated about 1.1 billion euros, or 0.6 percent of the regional GDP, and recent studies, such as that of the Venice Sustainability Foundation and Boston Consulting Group, estimate a growth potential of up to 4.5 billion euros by 2040, with the possibility of creating 2,400 new jobs, including allied industries. Space is, therefore, crucial for Veneto, but Veneto is equally crucial for space.”

A concrete example of Veneto’s contribution is the SATCO (Reconfigurable Cognitive Satellite) project, funded with 1.9 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This project aims to develop a “Made in Veneto” satellite constellation for applications such as environmental monitoring, emergency management, and communications, integrating artificial intelligence technologies. Initiatives like this demonstrate the region’s ability to compete in advanced technological segments.

As outlined during the press conference in Brussels and emphasized by Stephane Castet, CEO of ABE Group – Advance Business Event, everything is ready for a key edition dedicated to the blue economy. From May 20 to 22, Venice will host the third edition of the international event to bring together key industry players, financial operators, and companies interested in public and private investment opportunities in the space economy. For three days, the Venice Lagoon, a World Heritage Site, will become a showcase for RIR companies, offering them the chance to dialogue with buyers worldwide and project Veneto’s know-how globally.

Equally important is the challenge dedicated to young European innovators: VeneTo Stars, a project launched by the Veneto Region as part of the Digital Agenda, a permanent open innovation laboratory, which aims to stimulate innovative ideas based on the use of space data to support the development of the region, with a focus for 2025 on the interconnection between space and the Blue Economy.

Applications are open until April 10, 2025, and a team of experts will select the most original ideas to contribute to the development and innovation of Veneto.