Eleonora Lombardi,
Valerio Roscani,
Miriam Musacchio
Fondazione E. Amaldi c/o Agenzia spaziale italiana
Via del Politecnico snc
00133 Rome
Italy
Introduction
The ESA Business Applications Ambassador Platform for Italy (AP-IT), hosted at Fondazione E. Amaldi in Rome since 2016, is the national hub dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and market opportunities in space-enabled applications. Its mission is to stimulate the Italian ecosystem of space-integrated solutions and to support the growth of space-related business ventures across diverse sectors.
AP-IT builds on Italy's strong tradition in the international space sector and its rapidly expanding role in downstream applications. Backed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and the Italian Government, the platform plays a pivotal role in promoting funding opportunities while providing technical, commercial, and strategic guidance to innovators.
AP-IT actively identifies and supports commercially sustainable projects that leverage space technologies—such as Earth Observation, satellite navigation, and satellite communications—helping transform ideas into viable businesses. By connecting entrepreneurs with users, customers, service providers, and stakeholders, AP-IT fosters collaboration and builds long-lasting partnerships.
Through strong links with innovation hubs, research centres, incubators, and accelerators, the platform also creates opportunities for engagement in new thematic domains and helps bring space closer to non-traditional sectors. In this way, AP-IT serves as a catalyst for turning space innovation into real-world impact, driving Italy's contribution to the global space economy.
The Team
Eleonora Lombardi is the Ambassador of ESA Business Applications for Italy and Head of Department at Fondazione E. Amaldi, specialising in the commercialisation of space technologies and policy innovation through strategic initiatives in business applications and technology transfer. She served as Deputy Ambassador of the ESA Business Applications Ambassador Platform for Italy (AP-IT) from 2019 to 2023 as well as Project Coordinator of complex European projects, forging strategic partnerships with institutions and industry.
Valerio Roscani is the ESA Business Applications Deputy Ambassador for Italy and Programme Manager at Fondazione E. Amaldi. With a PhD in Astrophysics, he combines scientific expertise in satellite data analysis and AI with hands-on experience supporting technology advisory in spacetech investments.
Miriam Musacchio is Communication Manager at Fondazione E. Amaldi, leading digital strategies, high-impact events, and international engagement in the space innovation ecosystem. Previously at the European Space Agency, she supported the management of communications for commercialisation initiatives and flagship events such as the ESA Investor Forum.
