Rome – Italy is seeking to strengthen its position as a leader in both space and maritime technology,with new data revealing ample growth and investment in these key sectors. A report released today shows that Italy’s aerospace and shipbuilding industries generated over 7 billion euros in value added in 2023, an 82.4% increase since 2015. The findings, presented at the 3rd Space&Blue Forum in Rome, underscore a national push to foster collaboration and technological independence within these increasingly interconnected industries.
Rome, November 19 – Italy’s aerospace and shipbuilding industries generated over 7 billion euros in value added in 2023, representing 2.5% of the country’s total manufacturing output, according to preliminary data from a new national report. This marks an 82.4% increase since 2015, highlighting the growing importance of these sectors to the Italian economy.
The figures were previewed by Giovanni Acampora, President of Si.Camera and Assonautica Italiana, at the opening of the 3rd Space&Blue Forum in Rome, hosted by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. The forum aims to foster collaboration between Italy’s space and maritime economies to strengthen national technological independence, building on established expertise in both fields.
A key focus of the initiative is innovation, with data showing significant investment in digital technologies. Between 2023 and 2025, 69.9% of aerospace companies and 67.3% of marine economy businesses invested in such technologies.
The Italian Space Agency, with Director General Luca Vincenzo Maria Salamone, reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the space and maritime sectors, both nationally and within European frameworks. The agency plans to launch multi-themed tenders designed to encourage “cross-industry” participation from companies operating in space, maritime, and underwater industries for experimental development and advanced prototyping.
“Italy can and must be a leading nation in the Space&Blue Economy,” said Giovanni Acampora. “With the Integrated Space&Blue Economy Observatory and the new Underwater Observatory, we are building strategic tools that will allow the country to make decisions based on solid evidence, enhancing two highly technology-intensive sectors. The initial data clearly shows extraordinary potential: together, Space and Sea can become a decisive lever for national technological sovereignty and the competitiveness of our production system.”
Massimo Claudio Comparini, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Space Division and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thales Alenia Space, emphasized the growing integration possibilities between the two sectors. “Just think of the use of geospatial satellite data for monitoring seas and coasts, supporting sustainability, security, and resource management,” Comparini stated. “With space technologies, many of which are developed by Leonardo and its joint ventures Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, we have expertise in all areas of space, laying the foundation for an integrated ecosystem where sea and space orbits interact continuously.”
Recent data indicates a robust outlook for both sectors. The Italian space economy is projected to generate approximately 4 billion euros in revenue in 2025, according to the latest States General of the Space Economy report. Eurospace Facts & Figures 2025 shows the European space industry recorded sales of around 8.8 billion euros in 2024, employing nearly 66,000 people. Globally, the space economy reached 613 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, a 7.8% increase from the previous year, according to the Space Foundation’s “The Space Report 2025 Q2.” McKinsey’s latest report suggests the global space economy could reach 1.8 trillion dollars by 2035.
Italy’s maritime economy also contributes significantly to the national GDP, generating over 217 billion euros in value added – equivalent to 11.3% of the country’s GDP – and employing over 1 million people across more than 230,000 companies, according to the XIII Report by Ossermare – Unioncamere. The Eu Blue Economy Report 2025 indicates the blue economy generated nearly 890 billion euros in revenue in 2022, a 29% increase from 2021. The OECD estimates the ocean economy could surpass 3 trillion dollars by 2030, accounting for approximately 2.5% of global GVA. Furthermore, a recent PwC study projects the Italian underwater market will reach 204 million euros by 2030, growing 15.1%, maintaining its international leadership, bolstered by funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNS) which has engaged an ecosystem of 190 organizations.
