Abstract
Abstract
According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 3 main features of the new international space environment are driving innovation in the sector: in the first place, the strong development in the downstream space applications, which, for its size, can be described as a real revolution; second, the strong commitment of new corporate players across a wide range of industries in space-related activities. Finally, the role of governments, which are still the predominant actors both as funders of science and long-term R&D, and as customers for important space services: national security, societal applications, access to space, and human spaceflight. After a description of these phenomena at international level, we discuss about the changing role of the public sector in Italy. A Steering Committee for Space (Cabina di Regia), which was set up at the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the new Strategic Vision Document (2016–2025) of the Italian Space Agency express a paradigm shift that we register also in Italy. A significant focus on the growth of the space economy and the setup of new public–private partnerships are among the main news. A new law reorganizes the national space sector and institutionalizes the positive experience of the mentioned Cabina di Regia.
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