Advanced Manufacturing for Space: From Earth Qualification to In-Orbit Production

14:30 - 15:00

Keynote speech
From Factories to Orbit: Advanced Manufacturing for a Resilient Space Ecosystem
Space is entering a new industrial era, driven by geopolitics, strategic autonomy and the need to move from bespoke systems to scalable production. Advanced manufacturing, AI, digital twins and automation are transforming how we design, qualify and produce space systems on Earth. Europe has a unique opportunity to combine its manufacturing excellence with a new generation of sovereign, resilient and competitive space technologies. But the next revolution goes beyond terrestrial factories: manufacturing, assembly, repair and recycling will progressively move into orbit and onto planetary surfaces. The future of space will not only be launched from Earth, it will increasingly be manufactured in space.

Tommaso Ghidini, Head of the Mechanical Department
European Space Agency - ESA 

15.00 - 16.30
Lombardia Aerospace Cluster and the interlinked supply chains
Organized by Lombardia Aerospace Cluster

For many industrial companies, business diversification strategies represent a key lever for sustaining competitiveness in environments characterized by rapid evolution, technological transformation, and pressure on traditional markets. In this context, the space sector is gradually emerging as a potential area of expansion for non-space companies, thanks to the growing diffusion of space-enabled applications and the opportunity to leverage established skills, products, and processes in new market contexts. The potentially targeted sectors are automotive, health and textiles, as they have been identified as among the most promising for potential convergence trajectories with the space economy. These sectors feature high manufacturing expertise and strong technological innovation dynamics that can generate tangible value in the medium term.

Introduction
Massimo Maronati, Grammelot

Moderator
Davide Cionfrini, Confindustria Varese

Technical Textiles
Marco Colombo, Gavazzi Tessuti Tecnici

Automotive
Alessio Grasso, Dallara
Massimiliano Marsiaj, Sabelt 

Medical Technologies
Livia Visai, Università di Pavia
Valentino Matteotti, Cavok

Defence: Integrating Cross-Sector Supply Chains
Giuseppe Castellini, Ita Defence

16.30 - 17.30
From Market to Space: Essential Accreditation Elements
Organized by BEX Scientific Technical Committee

Analysis of the key requirements for accessing the space sector, including certification processes, insurance frameworks, and risk management for companies operating in the Space Economy.

Moderator
Marco Gisotti, Journalist, writer and science communicator

Round table
Maurizio De Mitri, President Piedmont Aerospace District (DAP)
Paolo Caglio, Country Manager Italia, Local Stream Manager Industrial Services TUV Rheinland
Alexander Felderer, Senior Consultant EY, Business Innovation & Transformation
Stefano Gualandris, Counsellor for the Aerospace and Defence Sector Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Managing Director Technosprings 

Mapping Italy’s Aerospace Innovation through European Patents
Dedicated presentation of the Unioncamere-Dintec-BEX report analyzing Italy's European patent portfolio in the aerospace sector. The study offers a data-driven overview of the country's technological positioning, mapping patent trends and key innovation clusters. The report is designed to support policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the Chamber of Commerce system in identifying growth opportunities and reinforcing Italy's competitiveness in one of the most dynamic frontiers of global innovation.

Presented by: Giovanni Manigrasso, Dintec-Unioncamere