The “Next2Space” Event and the MAE Project for SME Growth

The drone sector is rapidly emerging as one of the most dynamic global markets, and the “Next2Space” event, which will take place on October 11, 2024, in Bologna during Dronitaly, represents a unique opportunity to explore its potential. This event is part of the MAE (Moving Towards Aerospace) project, aimed at supporting industrial transformation toward aerospace by promoting an innovation ecosystem for local SMEs.

Here is the agenda for the day on October 11!

9:30 AM – Introduction
Adriano Gilli, Head of the Attractiveness, Internationalization, and Research Sector, Emilia-Romagna Region

9:45 AM – General Overview
Donatello Gianni, U–Avitalia: From Environmental Monitoring to Advanced Air Mobility: The Evolution of Regulations

10:15 AM – Business Cases

• Evaluating Underwater Habitats and the Integrity of Marine Infrastructure in the Context of Climate Change: The StreamER Project
  Speaker: Guido Munari – T3Lab
• Innovative Platforms for Planning and Managing Advanced Logistics: The Trace and Di Pegasus Projects
  Speaker: Denis Grasso – ITL
• The Use of Drones in ARPAE: Opportunities and Practical Aspects
  Speakers: Francesca Di Nicola and Daniele Chinè Milieri – ARPAE
• An Augmented Reality Platform for the Safety of Marine Energy Infrastructures: The Role of Drones in the ESA-INSURE Project (enea.it)
  Speaker: Paolo Tassin – Metaprojects

10:45 AM – Moderated Discussion Based on a “Business Opportunity Canvas”
Lorenzo Ciapetti, Antares and Tecnopolo di Forlì-Cesena

11:30 AM – Conclusions

To participate in the event, click here to register

Next2Space: A Bridge to Aerospace
Organized in collaboration with key players in Emilia-Romagna, “Next2Space” explores the development of “business and ecosystem applications” related to drones, focusing on growth opportunities in Northern Italy. The event program includes presentations on concrete case studies, such as the StreamER project, which assesses the integrity of marine infrastructures, and Trace, which focuses on advanced logistics. The aim of these sessions is to demonstrate how drones, also known as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), can offer innovative solutions for environmental management, logistics, and infrastructure safety.

MAE aligns perfectly with these perspectives, providing SMEs the opportunity to enter the aerospace sector through technologies such as drones. Local SMEs, often facing challenges related to the obsolescence of traditional business models, can leverage these new technologies to improve their long-term competitiveness.

Drones: Opportunities for Growth
One key point to be discussed at Next2Space is the increasing application of drones in contexts such as urban and regional air mobility. Recent studies show that drones and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for transporting passengers and goods up to 300 km are set to transform urban air mobility. Similarly, aircraft with greater autonomy (over 300 km) open doors to models of regional air mobility. This technological development is at the heart of MAE’s objectives, which aim to facilitate the integration of SMEs into emerging sectors such as aerospace.

Beyond urban applications, MAE also focuses on the potential of orbital drones, vehicles operating in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) that can be used for advanced observation and surveillance missions. These technologies represent new business opportunities for local companies, which, thanks to projects like MAE, can access significant support for innovation.

MAE and Responsible Innovation: A Future for SMEs
One of the main objectives of the MAE project is to raise awareness among SMEs regarding the opportunities offered by aerospace, both in terms of technological innovation and industrial competitiveness. In a context where energy transition and the adoption of new materials are transforming sectors such as automotive and mechanics, transitioning to the aerospace sector offers an alternative pathway for sustainable growth.

Events like “Next2Space” play a fundamental role in this process, as they provide a platform to discuss business prospects and drone applications with experts and industry stakeholders. With the contribution of projects like MAE, these discussions go beyond exploring technology; they aim to build an advanced regional ecosystem capable of supporting industrial development and responsible innovation.

Next2Space as an Engine of Innovation

"Next2Space" is more than a drone event; it's a platform connecting research, businesses, and public policies, fostering new business models for local SMEs. Supported by the MAE project, which guides industrial transition toward aerospace, the event plays a key role in Emilia-Romagna's tech growth strategy. By aligning innovation, regulation, and economic development, it highlights how drone technologies can drive the future growth and competitiveness of local SMEs.