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!
