Aerospace, the Veneto network on the launching pad: over one hundred companies

Aerospace

Call for a satellite constellation made in Veneto

12 May 2025

3' min read

- The Innovative Regional Network 'AIR-Aerospace Innovation And Research' won the Veneto Region's call for funding for research and development projects with its SATCO project, short for 'SATELLITE COGNITIVE RECONFIGURABLE'.

The call, which is part of the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) 2021-2027 programming, will provide EUR 1.9 million, of which EUR 1 million will be non-repayable.

The project coordinated by RIR AIR involves 6 companies (Qascom - which promoted the project - Dwave; IRCA - Zoppas Industries; Officina Stellare; Stella Project; T4i) and 2 universities (University of Padua and Ca' Foscari University of Venice), all belonging to that ecosystem which sees public bodies, universities, research centres and companies collaborating, and which has made Veneto one of the main regions in Italy in the aerospace sector, capable of moving 2 billion euros in turnover and employing more than 5.000 employees in 65 companies.

The long-term goal is to create a constellation of satellites with technology developed Made in Veneto. This constellation, unlike current systems, will be able to adapt to the context and provide services on demand for various applications, reconfiguring itself according to what it observes and learns, exploiting the most modern techniques of artificial intelligence to the needs, in the following areas

- Communication, even where or when mobile phones have no reception;

- Earth observation;

- Climate emergency monitoring and crisis management support;

- Maritime and air traffic control;

- Monitoring of crops and the environment.

"The awarding of this tender is a very important breakthrough because it unites excellence from the Veneto region, which is presenting itself on the market by offering even more advanced services. The AIR Network is making enormous progress and we are really proud of that,' comments Federico Zoppas, President of RIR AIR (Aerospace, Innovation & Research). 'The network is maturing both in terms of skills and teamwork, and this result is concrete proof of that. Now we have to work to realise it quickly. The ecosystem we have developed in Veneto, due to the great variety, flexibility and quality of products and services involved, is capturing the attention of major players. The new Space Economy is, objectively speaking, a driver of growth for the Veneto economic system, not only for the investments it is capable of activating and attracting, but also for its ability to accelerate research, innovation, training, and thus employment."

The SATCO project will last 24 months, but it is the first step in a series of investments that the companies of the Regional Innovative Network 'AIR - Aerospace Innovation and Research' intend to make. Thanks to this project, existing technologies can be consolidated and, at the same time, the most innovative components for the realisation of the satellite will be implemented.

In the first phase of the project, a flatsat, a non-operational satellite, will be built, demonstrating all the critical and fundamental elements for the intended service. This means developing all the fundamental systems and subsystems, leaving out for the time being the power, power supply (solar panels, batteries) and attitude control part, which will be integrated in a second phase, the one planned for the development of the satellite ready for flight (flight model).

The Universities of Padua and Venice also collaborate in the definition of the scientific mission and objectives, performance evaluation and dissemination of results.