Italian Space Economy Innovation Grows 91% with Key Contributions from Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space
SPACE ECONOMY
The Italian Space Economy experienced a remarkable 91% increase in patent filings from 2012 to 2022, significantly surpassing the global average, with notable contributions from Leonardo S.p.A. and Thales Alenia Space, the latter seeing a 550% rise in patents. Growth was particularly strong in Space Access technologies, which surged by 348%, while Satellite Communications patents rose by 69%. Despite this overall increase, the Innovation Patent Index indicates a decline in innovative capacity in certain areas, highlighting the emergence of new SMEs and startups since 2012.

Jan 21, 2026, 6:31 AM