Celebrating National Space Day: Italy and Croatia Strengthen Space Collaboration

In celebration of the fifth edition of National Space Day, the Embassy of Italy in Zagreb, in collaboration with the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Zagreb (FER) and the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, hosted a conference focused on European Space Perspectives. This gathering aimed to assess the performance of the space sector in Italy and Croatia while exploring prospects for enhanced bilateral collaboration within the broader context of European space exploration policies. The event opened with speeches from prominent figures, including Paolo Trichilo, the Ambassador of Italy in Zagreb; Hrvoje Meštrić, the Director for Science and Technology at the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth; and Vedran Bilas, the Dean of FER. Ambassador Trichilo highlighted Italy's significant contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA), being the third-largest contributor, thanks in part to the presence of leading companies within the Italian space sector. The Ambassador also reaffirmed Italy's commitment to strengthening scientific and academic collaboration with Croatia. This was underscored by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last March by Ministers Fuchs and Bernini in Rome. The MoU focuses on strategic areas such as research, artificial intelligence, blue economy, and renewable energy. Furthermore, Trichilo mentioned joint projects between the countries, including the Einstein telescope, as exemplifying their collaborative endeavors. Director Meštrić expressed satisfaction with the ongoing bilateral cooperation, noting Italy as Croatia's main partner in the Horizon Europe initiative, which encompasses 530 collaborative projects. Dean Bilas emphasized the potential of this conference to enhance synergies between Italy and Croatia across scientific, academic, economic, and commercial realms, fostering deeper engagements between businesses from both nations. The conference featured insightful discussions led by professors, researchers, and industry representatives from both Italy and Croatia. Among the notable speakers were Professor Eugenio Brusa from the Polytechnic University of Turin, Francesco Soldovieri from the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the CNR, and Sandro Panagini from Leonardo, an Italian aerospace and defense company. Additionally, the event highlighted the innovative astronomical tourist guide, "Rome: Second Star to the Right," developed by the National Institute of Astrophysics in cooperation with the Farnesina. This unique guide offers visitors a new perspective on the Eternal City, presenting itineraries infused with references to astronomy and science. The Embassy's celebration of National Space Day will continue on December 15 with a talk by Italian expert Eng. Giacinto De Paris from ESA at the Croatian Museum of Natural History in Zagreb. This lecture will address how space research can have a tangible impact on life on Earth. With support from the Consulate General of Italy in Rijeka, Eng. De Paris is also scheduled to present two more lectures on December 16 titled "Exploring the Universe" and "Improving Life on Earth," aimed at Italian high school students and local academics and scientists, respectively. The event held at Rijeka City Hall will feature the opening of the exhibition "Italian Space Design," a traveling multimedia project conceived and financed by the Farnesina in partnership with the Milan Polytechnic and ESA. This exhibition aims to showcase the strategic role of design in the space sector, a field in which Italy excels. Overall, this celebration marks a significant step in fostering international collaboration in space exploration between Italy and Croatia, exemplifying the shared commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovation. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2