The working group that will deal with contributing to the programmatic guidelines on Space was activated on 28 February 2023 at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, in the presence of the Minister with responsibility for space and aerospace policies, Adolfo Urso, of the head of the office for the space and aerospace policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Elena Grifoni Winters, and of the military advisor to the Prime Minister, Franco Federici.

The main industrial players, representatives of the world of research, finance and industrial associations participated in the workshop “Towards new government directions on space”.

Below are the proposals that the National Aerospace Technology Cluster makes available to the Government; President Cristina Leone explained:

• ESTABLISH A REWARD SYSTEM FOR THE REGIONS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALIGNING REGIONAL RESEARCH SPECIALIZATIONS AND THE RELATED CALLS FOR TENDERS IN THE AEROSPACE SECTOR WITH THE NATIONAL RESEARCH STRATEGIES AND ROADMAP WITH THE AIM OF PROFITING FROM REGIONAL PROGRAMMING, EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSING THEM TO THE MARKET; THIS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN AEROSPACE ACTORS TO ACHIEVE COMMON OBJECTIVES. BY ENHANCING TERRITORIAL SPECIALIZATIONS AND LEVERAGING PNRR FUNDS, WITH REFERENCE TO SPACE AND THE ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO IT, IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE GREATER IMPETUS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO GUARANTEE THE COUNTRY’S SOVEREIGNTY IN THIS SPECIFIC SECTOR.

• INCREASE INCENTIVES FOR R&D OF DEEP TECH COMPANIES. THE GROWTH OF HIGHLY INNOVATIVE DEEP TECH COMPANIES, SUCH AS THOSE IN THE SPACE SECTOR, REQUIRES INITIAL INVESTMENTS LIKE THOSE GRANTED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WHICH GENERALLY CATALYZE THESE REALITIES. WITH REFERENCE TO THE TAX CREDIT, THE PROPOSAL IS TO APPLY A DISCIPLINE LIKE THAT OF OTHER COUNTRIES SO AS NOT TO HAVE PENALTY CONDITIONS. IT IS ALSO CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO HAVE CERTAIN RULES THAT ARE ALSO VALID IN THE LONG TERM AND TO DEFINE THE FINANCING DISBURSEMENT TIMES A PRIORI. FINALLY, TO GUARANTEE THE SURVIVAL OF SMALL BUSINESSES (THIS IS HOWEVER ALSO VALID FOR LARGE COMPANIES), IT IS ESSENTIAL TO WORK IN POSITIVE CASH FLOW R&D ACTIVITIES WITH ADEQUATE ADVANCE PAYMENTS.

• DEFINE AND IMPLEMENT A NATIONAL PLAN TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF NEW SKILLS IN THE AEROSPACE SECTOR. THE AEROSPACE SECTOR NEEDS NEW GENERATIONS OF WORKERS WITH HIGH TECHNOLOGICAL AND DIGITAL SKILLS. IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS REAL COMPETITION TAKING PLACE BETWEEN COMPANIES (PARTICULARLY FOREIGN ONES) TO ATTRACT THE MOST PROMISING RESOURCES. THE DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF SIMILAR CONSIDERATIONS IS THAT THE DEFINITION OF THE TRAINING OFFER MUST BE GUIDED AND SYSTEMATIZED THROUGH A NATIONAL PLAN, IT MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES, THE STRENGTHENING OF TRAINING IN STEM SUBJECTS, AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GENDER EQUALITY IN SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS.

These are the objectives, which are accompanied by the hope of the President of the CTNA to intensify the opportunities for meetings between the industrial side and the government side to encourage a fruitful dialogue and strengthen the relationship with the institutions. The hope is that a similar program on aeronautical issues can soon be started.