Space: Research and Business Sector

(AGI) – Ancona, May 20 – The industry of the future cannot ignore
space as a business factor, as well as European countries cannot do
otherwise than overcome terrestrial frontiers to look for new
strategies in quality of life. This perspective implies consistent
investments in research and technology some do not want to face as the
represent a certain risk potential.
 
These
were topics discussed at Ancona University during the conference of
Italian university rectors, covering all topics related to space
activities in five sessions. After Genoa and Naples the expert group
arrived in Ancona to discuss “a European space policy: new strategies
for innovation and competitiveness”. Discussion was based on the
seventh EU programme waiting to be definitely approved by the European
Parliament.
 
In this context it will be important to
know how many countries will want to leave organization to a European
body, which will then collaborate with the USA and Japan. Astronaut
Umberto Guidoni stated: “We need to decide on a political level which
strategies Italy intends to promote. If Italy does not have a
scientific-industrial policy, research risks a block. Our country has
reached a good position in the space sector but investments and
expectations cannot be interrupted without putting at risk the whole
project.
 
Space is becoming a strategic
sector and the re-launch of European economy will permit the creation
of still more advanced technologies. In this context we will have to
grant Italy an important role”. The seventh EU programme assigns the
sum of 74 billion euro to new space activities for seven years, an
amount that should reach member states in percentage of their GDP, a
percentage between 1 and 1.24 pct.
 
The main areas financed: research and
development in collaboration of more states; choice of the best project
for fundamental research; human factor and creation of infrastructure
for research. Space technology can grant access to space, exploration
of space, satellite navigation, observation of the Earth and satellite
telecommunications. Sectors in which Finmeccanica group companies “are
able to cover the whole chain up to applications”, according to
Marcello Ricottilli of Telespazio. But Lanfranco Zucconi,
representative of the Italian association of small and medium
enterprises, stated that “Italy, even if it has a certain positioning
in Europe, is losing terrain.
 
To
compensate this trend we created an alternative network to big
enterprises with regard to satellites for telecommunications and
planetary observation”. He announced that in three months time Gavazzi
Space Milan will launch the first Iranian telecommunication satellite
not only with social but also with humanitarian goals. In Iran there
are some twenty thousand villages in zones with very low population
which hardly receive any kind of information. Now these people will be
able to communicate through satellite terminals.
 
COPYRIGHTS 2002-2005 AGI S.p.A.
EARSC
Author: EARSC



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