Last Friday (ndr 4 July 2025), STAM had the pleasure of participating in the Busalla Space Festival, an inspiring event organized by Italy’s first astronaut and long-time STAM partner, Franco Malerba. Representing STAM at the festival were the CEO Andrea Barbagelata and Executive Director Stefano Carosio, who engaged in a dynamic day of discussions and reflections on the present and future of the Space Economy.
As the ESA Technology Broker for Italy and ESA InCubed Ambassador, STAM is at the forefront of promoting technology transfer from space to Earth, helping businesses and startups strategically leverage space technologies and satellite data to drive innovation and growth.
The event featured the compelling panel “The International Space Landscape”, moderated by Anilkumar Dave, with the participation of notable figures such as Stefano Gualandris, Walter Cugno, Valentina Sumini, Marco Tantardini, and Veronica La Regina. This session explored the complex geopolitical, industrial, and scientific dynamics that are reshaping the global space ecosystem.
Later, the roundtable “The Space Economy in Action: Large and Small Companies Rising to the Challenge”, also moderated by Dave, emphasized the critical value of cross-sector collaboration, the strategic role of startups, and the importance of building stronger connections between industry, research institutions, and public agencies. Panelists included Alessio Piana, Bruno Conterno, Sara Garino, Leo Italiano, and Jacopo Callà.
These discussions reinforced a key message: cross-pollination between sectors and stakeholders is essential to turning space innovation into tangible impact on the ground. This was echoed by the Director General of the Italian Space Agency, Luca Salamone, Ph.D., and further underscored by the active participation of regional actors and innovation clusters.
Events like the Busalla Space Festival are a powerful reminder of how collaboration and knowledge exchange can accelerate progress in one of the most promising and transformative industries of our time.
