Italy and the United States are launching a new joint initiative designed to help European startups and small businesses expand in the growing space economy sector. The program, called the International Space Accelerator Program, was created through a partnership between the Aerospace Technology District of Brindisi and the American company Q Station, which works alongside SpaceWerx, the innovation branch of the U.S. Space Force.
The accelerator is the first Italy–U.S. program specifically focused on supporting startups and SMEs developing advanced space technologies. Its goal is to help companies enter the American commercial and government aerospace markets while strengthening transatlantic cooperation in strategic technologies.
The project will unfold in three stages. The first phase includes an in-person bootcamp in Brindisi with American mentors and industry experts. Participants will then complete about three months of remote accelerator coaching before traveling to New Mexico for the final stage hosted at Q Station’s headquarters. The program is aimed at innovative companies working in areas such as satellite systems, dual-use technologies, aerospace engineering, and space data applications.
Giuseppe Acierno, president of the Aerospace Technology District, described the initiative as an important opportunity for Italian and European companies seeking access to U.S. investors and defense procurement channels. Q Station CEO Randy Trask said the partnership is intended to simplify entry into the American market by connecting participants with investors, customers, and technology networks in the aerospace sector.
The program further strengthens Puglia’s growing role in Italy’s aerospace industry, a sector that already includes research centers, satellite technology companies, and advanced manufacturing hubs employing thousands of workers across southern Italy.
