The journey between the CTNA Districts started from Potenza to celebrate ” 10 years of the National Aerospace Technological Cluster” : a 5-month long journey, with a series of events in each of the territories home to the 13 aerospace and technological districts which today join the CTNA. The Cluster thus tells its story and that of the territories in which Italian excellence in aeronautics and space has developed and continues to develop to meet the needs of research, innovation and competitiveness.

The journey started from Basilicata , where the Lucanian Aerospace Cluster CLAS ETS organized a whole day of work divided into two moments: a morning event, in the research area of ​​the CNR of Tito (PZ), also the headquarters of the CLAS; and an event in the afternoon in Matera, at the Space Geodesy Center of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Citadel of Science and Space.

Authoritative personalities from the world of research and industry, witnesses of the European institutions and valuable testimonies of the excellence of the Lucanian aerospace system have contributed to remembering the historical roots of what is today an excellence recognized at national, European and international level .

The event finds the presence and testimony of local institutions ( Vito Bardi – President of the Basilicata Region ), of the world of research (Carmela Cornacchia – CNR and Ignazio Marcello Mancini – Rector of the University of Basilicata ), of the regional Districts ( Antonio Colangelo President of CLAS ETS and Remo Pertica – President of the Liguria SIIT Technological District) and of the National Cluster ( Cristina Leone, President of CTNA ), of large companies ( Massimo Comparini – CEO Thales Alenia Space Italia, Bruno Versini – COO of E-Geos ) and their associations ( Maurizio Madiai – Coordinator of the AIAD Aerospace Sector ) and of the Italian Space Agency ( Augusto Cramarossa – Head of the Presidency Technical Unit). All these actors have well represented the complexity of a sector and the importance of collaboration between “different worlds” (institutions, research, businesses and “facilitators”) and between different territorial levels. This collaboration characterizes not only the past, but also the future of aerospace and our country. Innovation in aerospace and the technologies developed in the aerospace sector, in fact, are increasingly crucial for the prevention and management of natural and environmental resources and for the introduction of solutions with lower environmental impact and the “intelligent” use of resources in all other sectors that allow us to respond to the needs of the economy and society.

The era of the “Space Economy” is now, and this requires a continuous effort in research and industrial application. We therefore talked about the many research projects in which Lucanian actors are involved, the importance of industrial doctorates as a tool for making research available to businesses and the competitiveness of the regional and national system and the opportunities offered by the PNRR and from other national programs (eg innovation ecosystems).

The topic relating to the fundamental role of human capital training was addressed , not only at a higher level, but also as a “culture of training”. The culture of aerospace is in fact a value to be transmitted to younger generations so that they can continue to write the history of Italian excellence.

In the morning , the students of the class of the “Flacco” Classical High School of Potenza were awarded , which won the silver medal at the ” National Space Olympics ” – organized by the CTNA on 16 December, on the occasion of the National Space Day announced by Presidency of the Council of Ministers and promoted by ASI: the speakers’ wish to the winning students was to continue studying, training in both classical and scientific subjects, cultivating study with curiosity, passion and creativity.

The President of the CTNA, Cristina Leone highlighted the commitment of the National Cluster and its Associates, for the training and awareness activities of young people, which includes the Space Olympics and the Space Dream initiative, currently underway with new contents and activity.

The President also launched the video created for the tenth anniversary of CTNA which, together with the publication “CTNA 10 – From the tradition of the territories to aerospace innovation”, published in recent days, recounts the results achieved in the first years of activity through images, names , texts, data and programs. The National Cluster was born from a group of “founding fathers” and continues to gather the membership of a growing number of regional districts and other associates, who recognize and contribute to increasing its representative role at the political, economic and institutional tables.

Prof. also spoke . Gregory Alegi , editor of the book and great expert on the history of aeronautics. The testimony of the prof. Alegi makes us understand very effectively how the past of Italian industry is neither a casual legacy, since it has deep roots in the culture and history of the territories, nor a static one, because the history of tomorrow is today’s present.

As host and organizer of this first event, CLAS therefore presented a video containing interviews with the people who represent Lucanian excellence in the Aerospace sector today .

In the afternoon, at the “G. Colombo” in Matera, the event continued with a round table on the theme “ The Aerospace Sector: Formulas for innovation between local skills and the global market ”. Antonio Colangelo – President of CLAS ETS moderated the various interventions, including: Cristina Leone, Massimo Comparini, Bruno Versini of e-Geos, Valerio Tramutoli – TeRN, Remo Pertica of SIIT. The debate was opened by the Hon. Pina Picerno – Member of the European Parliament recalling the commitment of the European institutions in supporting research and innovation, through the Horizon Europe programme, and aerospace as a primary sector for the competitiveness of the country and in particular of the South.

The CTNA will resume its journey immediately, with the appointment in Naples and the Campania Aerospace District on May 12th.