Space, here’s how Italy and Leonardo can break through
Objectives and challenges for Italy in space. Paolo Chersei's speech
In recent days, Leonardo's CEO Roberto Cingolani declared to the Defense Commission of the Chamber of Deputies : «We have taken control of the Space Alliance», that is, the space alliance between the main national strategic company and Thales, the company with in which Italy competes in aeronautics but in a joint venture with space. And again: «We have reviewed everything, we have modified the shareholders' agreements». So the relations between the two European – and world – leaders will change. Because at the moment the 67% of the shares held by Thales allow the French manufacturing company to hold its board of directors meetings in Cannes and not in Rome. Naturally it is not a question of geography, as attentive readers will understand, but it concerns powerful industrial, employment and decision-making structures. If it is so – and it is certainly so – that there will be a greater financial interest in the space field, Italy will count a little more in Europe, given that, regardless of the alliance shares, the Bel Paese is the third largest contributor to the Agency European Space Agency (ESA) which however was unable to have its director general appointed even though de facto it would have been up to it in a tradition of alternation between the great founders of the organisation. Things from the past and the laziness of those who managed the entire operation, you might say. Of course, today there is a different political reality in Italy. And there may be the independence and reformist mentalities of the majority. Taking control of a "slightly dormant" situation, as Cingolani said in the Chamber, is moreover in line with a very dynamic business that is developing around space, especially in the military field where low orbit activities almost completely monopolize the market and spaces. And where there is no shortage of wars!
The business world anxiously awaits the decisions that are materializing, because the change is not limited to the narrow perimeter of the industry in which the Ministry of the Treasury participates but extends to a large satellite sector of small and medium-sized enterprises which is practically responsible for the majority part of the products produced for national manufacturing purposes.
What there is in Italy's space interests can be reported with reasonable precision: Moon, Mars, exploration, Earth observation, telecommunications, artificial intelligence. A cuisine of avant-garde delicacies albeit in a blanket that is not very generous. What is consistently missing are pitchers. Vega aside, of course, but since Colleferro's production is strangled not only by the conflict in Ukraine but also by dangerous duplications proposed by Ariane Group (owned by Airbus and Safran), the question of access to space for Italy remains increasingly complex to solve. And in any case, solutions that can concretely challenge SpaceX and the related reductions in the purchase of launches do not seem to be just around the corner in Europe. As is easy to understand, the arguments listed above – but they represent only a small part of those present on the Sherpa tables – are increasingly less industrial and practically all political. Because a painless transfer of the French scepter to another power in such strategic sectors as the dominance of new projects to deal with the European institution does not appear very credible. Nor is Italy's bilateral alliance with the United States in the space field the best credential for consolidating our strategic position among the main European developments.
However, we have no doubt that if steps are taken, they will lead our country to greater dignity in the sector.
However, it is worth remembering a phrase from an Italian banker who understood finance: "Shares are weighed, not counted." The money placed on the table is not enough to create an industry and even less must there be a lack of wit and competence to manage alliances with less than first-rate partners. We need – let's face it – a targeted assignment of decision-making seats and strict supervision of the choices to be made. Without this requirement you won't get very far. But in Piazza Monte Grappa it is known. It is very well known and also quite simple. You just need to identify the right professional figures!
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/spazio-ecco-come-litalia-e-leonardo-possono-sfondare/ on Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:31:32 +0000.