This dissertation aims at tracing the state of the art and the evolution of the Italian space value chain in the New Space Economy age.

New industrial dynamics are transforming the space industry. For example, the cost reduction of space infrastructure deployment and management, the satellites’ miniaturization, the increasing accessibility to new space technologies and data. Open system Architectures are enabling a large variety of new space missions, while assuring compatibility with a wide range of launchers, by customizing the same tech platform. These dynamics have a strong the Italian space industry and its value chain. Companies and public institutions urge in to understand the capabilities of the industry to face the challenges of the New Space Economy.

The student(s) will map the capabilities and the gaps of the Italian space industry value chain regarding:

• digital transformation
• technological innovation in New Space logic
• evolution of business models in New Space logic (e.g. servitization)
• development of organizational skills in line with new paradigms of supply chain relationship and project management
• attraction and development of human capital

Given the explorative purpose of the research, starting from the existing body of knowledge, the student(s) will develop a survey for the Italian Space Industry. The unit of analysis will be the organizations of the Italian space industry.

The student will have the chance to be involved in the research team of the Space Economy Observatory. (https://www.osservatori.net/it/ricerche/osservatori-attivi/space-economy).

Further Material:

Davidian, K. (2020) ‘What Is “Commercial Space”?’, New Space, 8(1), pp. 1–3. doi: 10.1089/space.2020.29025.kda.

Denis, G. et al. (2020) ‘From new space to big space: How commercial space dream is becoming a reality’, Acta Astronautica, 166, pp. 431–443. doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.08.031.

ESPI (2020) ESPI Yearbook 2019: Space policies, issues and trends. Vienna, Austria.

OECD (2019) The Space Economy in Figures: How Space contributes to the global economy, The Space Economy in Figures: How Space contributes to the global economy. doi: 10.1787/c5996201-en.