Alumni Club of Rome Holds Space Economy Event at the French Embassy
CBS Alumni Club of Rome
A Universe of Opportunities - Diverse Perspectives on the Future of the Space Economy
On April 16, 2025, CBS Alumni in Rome gathered at the Embassy of France in Italy for a round table discussion on A Universe of Opportunities - Diverse Perspectives on the Future of the Space Economy, followed by a delicious dinner buffet.
The Space Economy is a strategic sector, with a global turnover of over $470 billion per year and growth forecast to $1.8 trillion in 2035 (World Economic Forum). Growth is driven by public and private investments, with European funding increasing from $200 million in ‘19 to over $1 billion per year. Space applications are essential for telecommunications, navigation, logistics, environmental monitoring and security. Opportunities emerge in space tourism, space debris removal, defense, in-orbit manufacturing and resource extraction from celestial bodies. France and Italy play a key role, with the European Space Agency (ESA), promoting technological innovation for the benefit of the international community with the Space Alliance, a joint venture between the French group Thales and the Italian Leonardo. This roundtable explores the future prospects of the Space Economy in a European and global context.
This engaging discussion featured speakers Ezio Bussoletti, Presidente E-Geos; Gianluigi Baldesi ’13, Head of Ventures and Financing Office, European Space Agency; Sandra Budimir, Co-founder and General partner - Expansion Venture; moderated by Nazareno Mario Ciccarello, Entrepreneur and President, IE Business School Alumni Club; and introduction by Martin Briens, French Ambassador in Italy.
