The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is playing an increasingly important role in supporting Italy’s national space ecosystem, with particular attention to startups and innovative SMEs active in the most dynamic segments of the new space economy.
Through its scientific, technological, space and economic diplomacy, and with a network of more than 50 specialised officers in the space and science sector, MAECI and the Directorate General for Growth and Export Promotion help create favourable conditions for the internationalisation of Italian expertise and strengthen the country’s presence in multilateral settings and in high-tech global markets. Responsibility for space policy, the Italian space industry and the relevant authorities lie with Office X of the DGCE.
In the field of innovation and aerospace startups, Office IV therefore works in coordination with Office X.
A strategic and innovative sector
Italy’s space sector is one of the country’s most advanced and strategic technological sectors. Backed by a long industrial tradition, a solid research ecosystem and a growing presence of young innovative companies, the sector is a key pillar of national competitiveness.
In recent years, Italian space-related startups have taken on a central role in the development of high value-added technological solutions, contributing to Italy’s positioning within the main European and international initiatives. These companies stand out for their ability to combine multidisciplinary expertise in aerospace engineering, materials science, artificial intelligence, robotics, information technology and data analysis.
Startups operate across the entire value chain:
- Upstream: design of technologies for access to space, satellite platforms and advanced payloads.
- Downstream: development of civil, economic and strategic applications based on the use of satellite data.
INNOVIT: acceleration and internationalisation
At the initiative of MAECI, the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub – INNOVIT – is active in San Francisco (USA), offering acceleration programmes for the most promising Italian startups and SMEs, with an annual focus on strategic sectors.
In 2026, a specific programme dedicated to Defensetech, Space and Dual Use (Call4Innovit) will be launched, confirming the Ministry’s growing attention to the space sector and to high-strategic-value technologies.
Last updated: January 2026