PIEMONTE AEROSPACE SECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL CONGRESS - MILAN. A NAVIGABLE DIGITAL PLATFORM WILL TRANSPORT VISITORS TO SPACE IN THE REGION'S EXHIBITION AREA

On the occasion of the International Astronautical Congress 2024 (IAC), taking place in Milan from October 14-18, Regione Piemonte and Piemonte Agency unveiled the companies and projects that position the region as a key player in the development of the Space economy.

More than 200 square meters of exhibition space will showcase the technological growth of the sector in Piemonte, featuring 30 companies representing the entire supply chain.

According to the latest estimates, the Space sector in Piemonte has seen significant growth, reaching a turnover of over one billion euros and employing nearly 2,000 people in large companies and SMEs.

Within the large exhibition area, Regione Piemonte and Piemonte Agency will present an innovative interactive experience, designed to highlight the strategic contributions of Thales Alenia Space and other companies from Piemonte in major international Space projects. Using a state-of-the-art touchscreen monitor equipped with advanced CGI (Computer Graphics) technology, visitors will dynamically and intuitively explore the details of these collaborations through a three-dimensional platform that allows manipulation of Space models for a 360° view. Video and photographic documentation further enriches the experience, showcasing Piemonte’s technical and manufacturing excellence in globally significant projects like the International Space Station (ISS), the Artemis program, and the Euclid mission, all initiated by NASA.

International Space Station (ISS). Over 50% of the pressurized volumes of the ISS were developed by Thales Alenia Space, a key contributor to various habitation and logistics modules, including the Node 2 (Harmony), the PMM Module, and the Cupola. These elements, products of advanced Italian technologies, have established the ISS as a unique platform for research and life in Space. The companies from Piemonte involved in the development of these components include Leonardo, Alfameccanica, Altec, Aviotec, Blue Engineering, Bytest, Chiarlone Officine, Idrosapiens, Lma, Novomeccanica, Sipal, Teseo, Tekspan, Criotec, C.M., Sabelt, and Apr.

Artemis Program – Lunar Gateway. As part of NASA's Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the Moon, Thales Alenia Space plays a key role in developing modules for the Gateway station such as Halo, Lunar I-Hab, and Lunar View, which are destined for future lunar orbit missions. Companies from Piemonte involved in these efforts include Lma, Alfa Meccanica, Novomeccanica, Criotec Impianti, Apr, C.M., Astroflex, Sipal, Ortec Innovazione e Tecnologia, Brain Technologies, Intek Innovazioni Tecnologiche, Altec, Ethos Facility Consortium, and Capgemini Italia.

Euclid Satellite. The Euclid satellite, launched to map the universe and study dark energy, represents another example of international collaboration where Thales Alenia Space has played a central role. Companies from Piemonte involved in this project include Altec, Aviotec, Criotec Impianti, and Leonardo.

The digital platform was designed and developed by WEDOO, an agency based in Torino, Rome, and Detroit (USA), specializing in CGI (Computer Graphics) solutions.

The exhibition space will feature a delegation of 22 companies from the Piemonte collective, organized by Piemonte Agency as part of the Integrated Supply Chain Project "Aerospace"—promoted by Regione Piemonte (Regional Government) and co-financed by the P.R. FESR 2021-2027—and the "Beni Industriali" project funded by Regione Piemonte and the Torino Chamber of commerce. Participating companies include Adaptronics, Alfa Meccanica, APR, ATLA, Avio-Composite, Aviotec, Axist, Bava, Composite Research, Erre Ti, Evolunar, Hipparcos, Kurs Orbital, LMA, Labormet Due, Lazzero Tecnologie, NewRoboticArm, Novac, Optec, Pastore Carmelo, Fabrizio & C., Spacemotionery, and Space V.
Additionally, the Piedmont Aerospace Cluster, the University of Torino, and other 9 excellences from the regional aerospace industry—such as Criotec Impianti, Ellena, Imex.A, Jorio, Sheetmetal Fabrication, Sipal, Vanzetti Engineering, and Vastalla—will be represented. Many other companies from Piemonte will have their own spaces at the IAC, including Leonardo, Thales Alenia Space, AIKO Space, ALTEC, Argotec, Exemplar, Leaf Space, Optec, Politecnico di Torino, Sabelt, Sidereus Space Dynamics, Sitael, Turin Tech Group, and Tyvak International. More than 25 B2B meetings are already scheduled for the Piemonte companies participating in the collective during the five days of the IAC.

"We recognize that Piemonte is a reference territory for the development of Space projects and missions," stated Alberto Cirio, President of Regione Piemonte, speaking from Brussels. "In our exhibition space, we will showcase the significance of the research and development efforts our region is pursuing through a supply chain that employs nearly 2,000 people and is growing with the support of high-quality academic training. A recent study by Ambrosetti and Thea Group confirmed that Piemonte is the leading Italian region for aerospace exports, demonstrating that our established ecosystem serves as a vehicle for the territory's development."

Andrea Tronzano, Regional Minister for Productive Activities and Internationalization of Piemonte, remarked, "The aerospace sector is increasingly becoming one of the pillars of Piemonte's economy. The data confirms exponential growth, making our region one of the leading areas in this field. We must continue to work to best enhance the sector, and in 2025 we will allocate funds and resources for certifications. Participation in the IAC is another step in this growth journey that should make us proud."

Guido Bolatto, Secretary-General of the Torino Chamber of commerce, added, "The participation of Piemonte companies at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan represents a unique opportunity to highlight our territory's excellence. The IAC is one of the most important global events dedicated to the space sector, providing an opportunity to present our know-how and establish collaborations with major players in this field. Piemonte boasts over 35,000 aerospace employees, a turnover of 8 billion euros, and exports accounting for 20% of the national total. With over 450 SMEs in the sector and strong institutional support, we are ready to seize all opportunities this event offers."

"Piemonte is becoming increasingly central in the Space sector," emphasized Dario Peirone, President of Ceipiemonte, "as demonstrated by the growing ability to attract companies and talent from around the world. Currently, more than 50 foreign investment projects in the aerospace sector are in the pipeline under Piemonte Agency's supervision, and in the past 24 months, five foreign companies operating in the space sector have finalized their investments in Piemonte. These are highly technological and innovative companies that chose our region for the optimal mix of talent, large companies, a diversified supply chain, and effective institutional support. Piemonte Agency also supports the international promotion of this supply chain, thanks to the contributions of our partners, particularly Regione Piemonte and the Torino Chamber of commerce, with initiatives like the IAC, where we are present with 31 companies from Piemonte. In the past 12 months, over 200 companies from Piemonte have had the opportunity to meet international space industry buyers thanks to our efforts."

"Piemonte is Italy's leading region for the development of future space projects," stated Fulvia Quagliotti, President of the Piedmont Aerospace Cluster. "At the IAC, we will demonstrate how large companies and the SME supply chain are involved. A highly competitive Space Cluster is growing in Piemonte, raising awareness among institutions and academia about the region's position as an international reference. The growth of SMEs, especially in the field of mini-satellites, is also significant."

"The Politecnico di Torino is strongly committed to developing Piemonte's aerospace supply chain and participates in the IAC with over 170 professors and researchers, more than 30 laboratories and research centers, presenting ongoing research in the sector and intellectual property developed at the university in the space field, along with startups and companies born from our research," explained Professor Gianmario Pellegrino, Rector's Delegate for Technology Transfer at Politecnico di Torino. "Telling the story of the Politecnico and the region's presence at the IAC means explaining the importance of research and development activities in a leading sector of the space economy, which finds its home in the Piemonte Aerospace District, where the Politecnico plays a leading role in the Città dell’Aerospazio project in Torino."

Walter Cugno, Vice President of the Exploration and Science Domain at Thales Alenia Space and Site Manager for Torino, who led the explanation of the digital platform's contents, stated, "This interactive experience intuitively and engagingly showcases the full industrial capabilities of Thales Alenia Space and the important Piemonte supply chain in the challenges of exploration, science, and human spaceflight. Thanks to our company's significant contribution to the development of the International Space Station, we are now a leading player in providing modules for the future lunar Gateway station. We are talking about critical skills and capabilities spread across the region, making Piemonte an attractive area for the national and international space market."