Italy advances space economy and autonomous driving initiatives

In Turin, industry leaders, researchers, and investors gathered for the ‘Space Economy: The New Frontier of Innovation’ forum. The discussion, part of the ‘Torino Spazio Futuro’ project, focused on critical priorities for the aerospace supply chain, including access to capital, company scaling, technology transfer, and the relationship between research and industry. Participants also addressed regulatory frameworks and Europe’s ability to remain competitive in international markets.

In Milan, the city council has approved a three-year agreement with Niulinx, an Italian startup and spin-off from the Politecnico di Milano, to test autonomous driving technologies. The project aims to experiment with robotaxis, shuttles, and on-demand transport services to integrate autonomous driving into urban mobility. The initiative focuses on providing services for hospitals, schools, and vulnerable populations, including the elderly and people with disabilities. Testing will utilize Fiat 500e platforms equipped with high-performance sensors and computing units, with trials also planned for Cernusco sul Naviglio and Brescia.