New Thales Alenia Space Smart Factory in Rome Redefines European Satellite Production with Digital and Sustainable Innovation

From left to right: Hervé Derrey, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, Chairman of Leonardo, Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy, Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo, Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space and CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia, Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Massimo Claudio Comparini, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Space Division and Chairman of the Thales Alenia Space Supervisory Board, and Philippe Keryer, SEVP Strategy, Research and Technology for Thales. © Thales Alenia Space/ M.Iacobucci

(IN BRIEF) Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo, has inaugurated its €100 million Space Smart Factory in Rome’s Tecnopolo Tiburtino. Supported by Italy’s PNRR funds and the Italian Space Agency, the facility integrates digital, robotic, and Industry 4.0 technologies to produce up to 100 satellites per year across diverse missions. It features modular cleanrooms, a collaborative Space Joint Lab, and sustainable energy systems. The factory will begin operations with projects such as Sicral 3, Galileo second-generation satellites, and Copernicus missions, positioning Italy as a leader in Europe’s next generation of satellite manufacturing.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROME, 7-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has officially inaugurated its Space Smart Factory in Rome — one of Europe’s most advanced, intelligent, and reconfigurable manufacturing facilities for satellite production. The opening ceremony, held at Tecnopolo Tiburtino, was attended by President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, together with government officials and industry leaders, marking a significant milestone in Italy’s space and industrial innovation journey.

This next-generation facility represents a €100 million investment, supported by Italian Space Agency (ASI) funding through Italy’s PNRR recovery and resilience plan and additional financing from Thales and Leonardo. The Space Smart Factory integrates cutting-edge digital technologies, robotics, and Industry 4.0 principles, enabling end-to-end digital continuity — from engineering design to production and testing — across modular cleanrooms capable of manufacturing satellites for diverse missions and constellations.

The factory will begin operations by year-end, with the Sicral 3 satellite for the Italian Ministry of Defence as its first project. Upcoming integrations include second-generation Galileo constellation satellites and Copernicus missions ROSE-L and CIMR, further strengthening Europe’s position in Earth observation and navigation capabilities.

Italian Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso hailed the opening as a defining moment for the nation’s space sector:

“With the inauguration of this Space Smart Factory, Italy takes a strategic step forward in strengthening its space supply chain. This project exemplifies effective public-private collaboration and the intelligent use of PNRR funds to boost innovation, employment and technological sovereignty.”

Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency, emphasized the facility’s national importance:

“This advanced manufacturing site is a key asset for Italy, ensuring our leadership in the production of large satellite infrastructures across Earth observation, telecommunications and navigation.”

Hervé Derrey, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, highlighted the company’s innovation drive:

“This state-of-the-art facility positions Thales Alenia Space among the world’s most advanced space manufacturers. Leveraging digital technologies and automation, it enhances our capacity to deliver next-generation satellites and strengthens our support for European and national space programs.”

Massimo Claudio Comparini, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Space Division, described the factory as a blueprint for Europe’s future production paradigms:

“This reconfigurable smart factory can build over 100 satellites a year, using digital and robotic systems that link seamlessly with suppliers and partners — a vital asset for growing the space economy in Italy and Europe.”

Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space and CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia, added:

“Our Space Smart Factory represents a true paradigm shift in space manufacturing — faster, more flexible, and more collaborative. It will also serve as an open platform for small and medium enterprises, academia, and research centers to innovate together.”

At the core of this ecosystem is the Space Joint Lab, a collaborative environment supported by ASI through PNRR funds. The lab will nurture talent, encourage innovation, and connect industry players with leading academic institutions such as Politecnico di Milano and La Sapienza University of Rome, as well as with partners like Accenture, which contributes its digital process innovation expertise.

Sustainability is also central to the Space Smart Factory’s design. The LEED-certified building integrates solar panels, rainwater recovery systems, and renewable energy technologies, supplying approximately 10% of its power needs. With a total installed capacity of 4.5 MW and 24/7 operational continuity systems, the facility demonstrates how advanced manufacturing and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

Designed by eos s.r.l. and constructed by CBRE | Hitrac, the facility was delivered under the management of Leonardo Global Solutions, which oversaw all phases from site acquisition to project completion.

The Space Smart Factory is set to become a cornerstone of Europe’s satellite manufacturing ecosystem — enhancing Italy’s industrial sovereignty, supporting major European space programs, and driving the evolution of the global space economy.

About the Space Smart Factory

The Space Smart Factory will employ flexible automation and digital systems to deliver high production capacity for next-generation space systems, with a strong focus on micro and small satellites, future constellations and Thales Alenia Space’s full portfolio of modular platforms for commercial and institutional programs. It will also support the rapid refurbishment of innovative, modular, high-performance platforms for future constellations, including the European Space Agency’s ERS constellation, the Italian Space Agency’s telecommunications constellation and Leonardo’s constellation for new Earth observation services.

The Factory will use advanced digital and robotic/cobotic technologies to build satellites across multiple classes and applications. Designed to optimize capacity and reduce costs, it can manufacture more than 100 satellites per year — around two per week — with the capacity to further scale production in line with market demand. Furthermore, being part of Italy’s network of interconnected space factories, it will amplify synergies and capacities. Through its open approach to the entire supply chain and close work with academia, it will drive the development of new products and professional skills.

With modular cleanrooms and advanced digital technologies, the Space Smart Factory can be reconfigured to meet production needs, supporting the integration and testing of a wide range of satellites — from Earth observation, navigation and space telecommunications to automated and reusable vehicles and in-orbit servicing demonstrators. As a true digital hub, the center will apply cutting-edge tools and methods across every stage of satellite design, assembly, integration and testing. These include numerical modeling and digital twin technologies, virtual and augmented reality, integrated simulators connected to the supply chain and advanced automation solutions such as robots and cobots. Another advantage of the facility relies on its ability to address large constellations up to several hundred satellites.

All assembly and integration areas are now complete. This new facility will boost the Rome site’s production capacity, with plans to recruit additional highly qualified employees. Once fully operational, the Space Smart Factory will begin testing and integrating its first satellites in the new-generation cleanrooms: the Sicral 3 defense satellite, second-generation Galileo constellation satellites and new Copernicus program satellites, including ROSE-L and CIMR.

A strategic cornerstone of the facility is the Space Joint Lab — an innovative, fully flexible collaborative space strongly backed by ASI through PNRR funds. It is designed to train new professionals in space disciplines and foster the development of innovative ideas and products in partnership with SMEs, startups, suppliers, industry partners and research centers.

This new entity also brings together top expertise in aerospace and industrial disciplines from academic institutions such as Politecnico di Milano and the University of Rome “La Sapienza,” along with the global know-how of Accenture, a leader in digital and process innovation for the aerospace sector.

The entire project is guided by sustainable architecture principles, with a strong focus on energy efficiency and extensive use of renewable energy enabled by digital technologies. The building is LEED certified and equipped with rainwater recovery systems and solar panels supplying around 10% of its energy needs. It also has an installed power capacity of 4.5 MW, supported by a redundant system to guarantee 24/7 operational continuity.

The facility was designed by eos s.r.l., which also supervised the project, and built by CBRE | Hitrac, a global leader in critical infrastructure technologies and lifecycle services for advanced technology systems. Leonardo Global Solutions oversaw the entire real estate operation — from land acquisition and procurement management to the launch of construction.

Notes

Eos, headquartered in Milan and Rome, is an integrated engineering services company built on teamwork. Its matrix organization supports a multidisciplinary approach, combining expertise in architecture, structural engineering, safety and civil plant systems. www.eosweb.it

CBRE | Hitrac is a global leader in technologies for critical infrastructure and services covering the entire lifecycle of advanced technological systems. www.hitrac-engineering.com

Leonardo Global Solutions (LGS), a service provider for Leonardo, operates with the primary objective of creating value for the entire Leonardo Group. It supports business activities in Italy and abroad with economic efficiency and process standardization, aiming at technological innovation and promoting the wellbeing of people, aligned with common sustainability goals. https://leonardoglobalsolutions.com/it/home

About Thales Alenia Space

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental monitoring, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of solutions including services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of €2.23 billion in 2024 and has more than 8,100 employees in 7 countries with 14 sites in Europe. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales, Media relations
pressroom@thalesgroup.com

SOURCE: Thales

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