Get immersed in the Space Ecosystem orbiting around Milan

Milan’s Thriving Space Innovation Network

Discover Milan’s dynamic space innovation network—a launchpad for your space ventures. With top institutions like Politecnico di Milano and diverse fields of expertise, our ecosystem fosters innovation. Milan’s strategic location opens doors to global markets, while cutting-edge facilities empower your ideas. Join us and shape the future of space tech!

Polihub

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PoliHub, an innovation district of Politecnico di Milano, plays a pivotal role in nurturing startups and technology transfer. As one of Italy’s leading incubators, it provides a fertile ground for space tech startups to flourish. Through mentoring, funding support, and access to state-of-the-art laboratories, PoliHub empowers entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into disruptive space innovations.

SINCE 2015
850
+
Accelerated Startups
7.700
MQ
Coworking space
120
+
Mentors
15
Main exits
147
€
Investments received from accelerated startups

Politecnico di Milano

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Politecnico di Milano, one of Europe’s leading technical universities, has a long-standing tradition of pioneering research and education in aerospace engineering and space sciences. Its world-class faculty and cutting-edge facilities, such as the DAER laboratories, serve as hotspots for innovative space research.

48000
+
Msc and bsc students
210000
+
Alumni Polimi
1690
PhD students
1507
Faculty
1
°
University in Italy
7
°
University in the world for Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering
18
°
University In the world for Engineering & Technology

Source: QS Ranking 2023

Daer

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The Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the Politecnico di Milano (DAER) is the only university department in Italy entirely dedicated to aerospace studies. It inherits the long and successful aeronautical and space tradition that the Politecnico di Milano has fostered since the early days of air transport.

50
+
Faculty members (professors & researchers)
100
+
PhD students, post docs, adjuct researchers
30
+
Technical and administrative staff

Daer Experimental labs

  • Aerodynamic laboratory
  • Experimental Test Laboratory
  • Technological laboratory
  • LaST Transport Safety Lab
  • SpLab Space Propulsion Lab

Daer Research areas

  • Aerospace Structures, Materials and Technologies
  • Aircraft and Rotorcraft Design, Aerodynamics, Dynamics and Control
  • Fluid dynamics, computational engineering, energy conversion
  • Space science and engineering

Esa Bic

ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) are the largest network of incubators supporting space related start-ups in Europe. The objective is to support entrepreneurs with a space-based business idea and help them developing their product while getting their company off the ground. In the process, they create and grow clusters of space-related start-ups across Europe.

The ESA BICs seek entrepreneurs who develop applications that use space-based systems (such as satellite navigation, earth observation, or satellite communication); use space technologies in a non-space domain; and/or who develop innovative products and services for the space sector.

Lombardy
Space
History

Credits: Giovanni Caprara, Corriere della Sera
1

mid-1960s

Birth of Industrial Space Activity in Lombardy

In the mid-1960s, Lombardy ventured into industrial space activities. Laben, a nuclear instrumentation company since 1958, joined ESRO’s early projects, supplying parts for pioneering European scientific satellites. With ESA’s inception in 1975, Laben expanded its role in projects like Cos-B and collaborated on CNR’s Sirio-1 satellite. In 2004, Laben merged with Alenia Spazio, becoming ThalesAlenia Space, cementing its position in the space industry.

2

mid-1960s

From Radio Equipment to Space Technology

FIAR, a Lombard company, ventured into space in the mid-1960s. Originally manufacturing radio equipment since 1941, FIAR expanded into aviation radar systems. Through mergers, it became part of Galileo Avionica and later Finmeccanica/Leonardo. FIAR specialized in satellite components like power control and transponders. Eventually, production shifted to Leonardo’s Nerviano facility, emphasizing space robotics and solar panel manufacturing

3

1977

Telespazio: A Hub for Space Exploration

In 1977, Telespazio established the Lario Space Center in the far north of Lake Como. The initial activities were dedicated to experiments related to the Sirio-1 satellite’s propagation. Since then, activities have expanded to a wide range of space services

4

1981

Carlo Gavazzi Space (OHB): Satellites Integration

Founded in 1981, the company has several satellites to its credit, designed and fully integrated by them, along with experiments conducted on the ISS.

5

1993

Media Lario: Pioneering X-Ray Astronomy

In 1993, Media Lario was founded in Bosisio Parini (Lecco), participating in the construction of ESA’s XMM telescope to collect X-ray radiation emitted by celestial bodies. Since then, it has developed a series of activities with a unique specialization in the field, using its own technology to collect ambient radiation and collaborating on various international space programs.

6

1998

MegSat: Microsatelittes Manufacturing

In 1998, MegSat was established in Brescia to manufacture microsatellites for collecting data, such as light meter readings in households, and for general industrial data transmission. It was a private investment and launched two test satellites in 1999 and 2000. However, the company failed to find a market and closed in 2005.

7

2011

D-Orbit: Revolutionizing Space Logistics

Founded in 2011, one of the first players in the New Space market, they are building a space logistics infrastructure that will enable service providers to streamline satellite launch, across-orbit transportation, on-orbit servicing and refueling, and end of mission disposal.

8

2014

Leaf Space: Microsatellites Services

Founded in 2014, Leaf Space is a company offering ground segment services for microsatellites that is headquartered in Milan, Italy

9

2015

Apogeo Space: Nanosatellites for IoT

In 2015, Apogeo Space was founded in Brescia. It constructs nanosatellites for IoT purposes. At the end of 2003, it began building a constellation of a hundred satellites in orbit.

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