L2L SUMMIT: SCHIO BLASTS OFF “FROM WOOL TO THE MOON”

L2L Summit: Schio Blasts Off “From Wool to the Moon”

 

Schio, a city historically renowned for its prestigious textile manufacturing tradition, has just taken a giant leap—from the threads of wool to the frontiers of space. On June 26, 2026, the Teatro Civico and Sala Calendoli successfully hosted the inaugural edition of the L2L Summit – “From Wool to the Moon” (Dalla Lana alla Luna), an event that marked a crucial milestone for the technological and economic future of our region.

 

The Goal Achieved: Connecting Manufacturing and the Space Economy

The summit was born with the ambition to build a solid bridge between local businesses, research centers, and innovation stakeholders. The day was a resounding success: the event highlighted the extraordinary evolution of the local manufacturing sector toward aerospace technologies, proving that traditional industrial know-how is now a pillar of the new space economy.

Key strategic topics were explored in depth throughout the sessions:

  • Earth Observation and environmental monitoring.
  • Precision manufacturing applied to aerospace engineering.
  • Development of new composite materials.
  • Global trends and future perspectives of the Space Economy.

 

A Program Packed with Opportunities and Networking

The L2L Summit was far more than just a series of presentations; it served as a vibrant hub for active networking. The agenda featured:

  • High-level Conferences and Panels led by industry experts.
  • Intense B2B meetings aimed at forging new commercial synergies and collaborative research projects.
  • Company visits that allowed attendees to experience the territory’s technological excellence firsthand.

 

Keynotes and Prestigious Speakers

The lineup of guests brought together cutting-edge scientific research, direct cosmic experience, and European institutional leadership. Highlights of the day included:

  • A valuable contribution from Samuel Chao Chung Ting – 1976 Nobel Laureate in Physics and leader of the AMS-02 International Collaboration, who opened the proceedings with a dedicated video message.
  • An inspiring talk by Roberto Vittori – Astronaut and mission specialist, who captivated the audience by recounting the historic 2011 Shuttle STS-134 mission, during which he docked the AMS-02 antimatter detector to the International Space Station (ISS).
  • A strategic legislative overview from Elena Donazzan – MEP and Vice-Chair of the ITRE Committee (Industry, Research, and Energy), as well as rapporteur for the landmark European Space Act.

The roundtable discussion also featured high-level operational insights from Federico Zoppas (President of RIR AIR) and Giovanni Dal Lago (Board Member), who focused on regional business networks and the development of the local aerospace supply chain.

A special thank you goes to AlcaSpace, the space division of Alca Technology and partner of RIR AIR, for their active participation and continuous support in driving innovation within this rapidly growing sector.

The first edition of the L2L Summit concluded with a clear consensus: this region possesses all the tools and expertise required to redefine the boundaries of innovation, guiding local businesses… from wool to the Moon!

RIR AIR FLIES TO GERMANY AND BRINGS 19 VENETO COMPANIES TO THE AIRBUS FINAL ASSEMBLY LINE AND ILA BERLIN 2026

RIR AIR FLIES TO GERMANY AND BRINGS 19 VENETO COMPANIES TO THE AIRBUS FINAL ASSEMBLY LINE AND ILA BERLIN 2026

A strategic opportunity to strengthen Veneto’s position within the international aerospace supply chain

On June 10–11, 2026, the Aerospace Innovation and Research Regional Innovative Network (RIR AIR) organized and led an institutional mission with a delegation of 28 participants representing 19 companies from the Veneto region, travelling between Hamburg and Berlin. The mission provided an exceptional opportunity to exclusively visit Airbus’ production facility in Finkenwerder and attend ILA Berlin 2026, two of the world’s premier events for the aerospace industry.

The 19 Veneto-based companies participating in the mission reflected the diversity and strength of the region’s aerospace ecosystem: VAutomation Srl, Lika Electronic, Extreme Analyses Engineering, DAVE Embedded Systems, Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies, AlTiColor S.r.l., Bluewind, C.S.C. Spa, ABWAY GMBH SRL, Benozzi Engineering, Isoclima Group, LOMEC S.r.l., DWave – Innovators in Space and IoT, Mecc-Tre Srl, Microtecnica Trevisana SRL, GUIZZO SPACE, Buson Srl, Ecor International, and RIR AIR.

These organizations operate across a wide range of fields, including embedded electronics and IoT systems, advanced materials and aircraft transparencies, industrial automation, thermal systems, and structural components, demonstrating the breadth of expertise developed in Veneto in support of the New Space Economy.

June 10 – Inside Airbus’ Finkenwerder Plant

The first day of the mission took place in Hamburg at Airbus’ Finkenwerder production facility, the leading European aircraft manufacturer and one of the two major global players in the commercial aviation sector.

Following an initial session of direct and privileged discussions with Airbus executives, participants were granted access to an experience rarely available to external visitors: an exclusive tour of the Final Assembly Line, where some of the world’s most advanced commercial aircraft are assembled. With an industrial footprint spanning France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and beyond, this behind-the-scenes immersion provided Veneto companies with a unique opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the technical, quality, and organizational requirements needed to become part of the supply chain of a top-tier aerospace manufacturer.onnections between companies, investors, research centers and institutions , fueling the development of the entire aerospace sector.

June 11 – ILA Berlin 2026: The Global Showcase for Aerospace

The second day took place at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, where the delegation visited ILA Berlin 2026, held from June 10 to 14. Participants were welcomed by local guide PierGoffredo Ronchi, Managing Director of the Official Berlin Trade Fair Delegation in Italy, who led a guided tour in Italian through the exhibition halls, highlighting the key trends shaping the global aerospace industry—from sustainable propulsion and urban air mobility to defense and space technologies.

A dedicated networking and matchmaking session was organized for the Veneto partners with qualified German counterparts. The initiative was promoted by WFBB (Economic Development Agency Brandenburg), BPWT (Brandenburg Prize for Technology Transfer and Innovation Network), and BBAA (Berlin-Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance).

The event provided an important opportunity to establish strategic connections with companies, research centers, and stakeholders from the Berlin-Brandenburg innovation ecosystem, fostering the development of potential technological, project-based, and commercial collaborations at the international level.

“The RIR AIR mission is part of a structured strategy aimed at supporting the internationalization and growth of the Veneto aerospace cluster. Bringing 19 regional companies into direct contact with Airbus—a global leader in commercial aviation—and with the leading international players present at ILA Berlin represents a tangible opportunity for growth, technological advancement, and the development of new business relationships.”
Federico Zoppas, President of RIR AIR.

RIR AIR is the Regional Innovative Network that brings together aerospace companies from the Veneto region with the objective of fostering innovation, industrial collaboration, and access to international markets. Its core activities include training, technology transfer, and institutional missions abroad, such as the one organized in Berlin.

RIR AIR enters the official Italian Space Industry Catalogue: a milestone for the Cluster and its international reach

RIR AIR has been officially included in the Italian Space Industry Online Catalogue, the international showcase maintained by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and used as an authoritative reference for foreign stakeholders exploring Italy’s aerospace ecosystem.

The Italian Space Industry Online Catalogue is far more than a directory. It is ASI’s official window onto the national space sector — the resource foreign institutions, agencies, and potential partners turn to when seeking credible, vetted players in the Italian aerospace landscape. Inclusion is not automatic; it reflects recognised standing within the industry.

For RIR AIR, this means stepping into a curated, internationally visible arena alongside Italy’s most established space organisations.

Why this recognition matters

Being listed in the ASI catalogue carries concrete strategic weight:

  • International visibility: The catalogue is the first point of contact for foreign stakeholders — from space agencies and research institutions to private investors and industrial partners — looking to engage with Italian aerospace capabilities.
  • Institutional credibility: ASI’s endorsement of the catalogue lends each entry a layer of official recognition that strengthens trust with international counterparts.
  • New collaboration pathways: Visibility at this level opens doors to partnerships, joint projects, and opportunities that extend well beyond national borders.

This kind of exposure is a direct accelerator for growth and cross-border dialogue.

The page dedicated to RIR AIR is now live within the catalog, making it accessible to the global community of stakeholders across the space sector.

Visit the RIR AIR dedicated page in the Italian Space Industry Online Catalogue:

Rete Innovativa Regionale Aerospace Innovation and Research – RIR AIR

Space Meetings Veneto 2026 | Exhibitor registration now open

RIR AIR è stata ufficialmente inclusa nell’Italian Space Industry Online Catalogue, la vetrina internazionale curata dall’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) e utilizzata come riferimento autorevole dagli stakeholder stranieri che intendono esplorare l’ecosistema aerospaziale italiano.

 L’Italian Space Industry Online Catalogue è molto più di un semplice elenco. È la finestra ufficiale dell’ASI sul settore spaziale nazionale — la risorsa a cui si rivolgono istituzioni estere, agenzie e potenziali partner quando cercano attori credibili e riconosciuti nel panorama aerospaziale italiano. L’inclusione non è automatica: riflette un posizionamento consolidato all’interno dell’industria.

Per RIR AIR, questo significa entrare in un contesto selezionato e visibile a livello internazionale, accanto alle realtà aerospaziali più affermate del Paese.

 

Perché questo riconoscimento è importante

Essere presenti nel catalogo ASI ha un peso strategico concreto:

  • Visibilità internazionale: il catalogo è il primo punto di contatto per gli stakeholder stranieri — da agenzie spaziali e istituti di ricerca a investitori privati e partner industriali — che desiderano conoscere le competenze aerospaziali italiane.
  • Credibilità istituzionale: il patrocinio dell’ASI conferisce a ogni realtà inclusa un livello di riconoscimento ufficiale che rafforza la fiducia presso le controparti internazionali.
  • Nuove opportunità di collaborazione: una visibilità di questo livello apre le porte a partnership, progetti congiunti e opportunità che vanno ben oltre i confini nazionali.

Questo tipo di esposizione rappresenta un acceleratore diretto per la crescita e il dialogo transfrontaliero.

La pagina dedicata a RIR AIR è ora attiva all’interno del catalogo, rendendola accessibile alla comunità globale degli stakeholder del settore spaziale.

Visita la pagina dedicata a RIR AIR nell’Italian Space Industry Online Catalogue:

Rete Innovativa Regionale Aerospace Innovation and Research – RIR AIR