Space Governance: The Sphere Space Policy Forum at Luiss

Future space policies require an approach that combines social sciences and technical expertise to address the complexity of a sector that increasingly impacts the economy , security , and international cooperation . This is the basis for the first Sphere Space Policy Forum, held on November 7 at the Luiss Guido Carli University Campus in Rome. It was opened by Minister of Enterprise Adolfo Urso, in the presence of representatives from Leonardo, the Italian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and key players in the Italian aerospace industry. Organized by the Sphere (Space Policies, Humanities, and Exogeographical Research Ecosystem) Unit of the Luiss Research Center for International and Strategic Studies, the Forum, "The New Space Age: Multidisciplinary Governance for the Future of Public Policies," addressed the challenges of managing space as a global strategic area , where scientific research , innovation , and public policies must evolve in a coordinated manner. Topics discussed included space as a strategic domain , the role of public and private policies in the space economy, and the social, geopolitical, and ethical implications of exploration beyond Earth .

"With the establishment of this observatory at the CISS research center, Luiss University strengthens its strategic commitment to space, an increasingly central area for global research and policies," said Raffaele Marchetti, director of Luiss CISS. Luiss, according to a statement, "confirms its position as an academic benchmark in training new professionals working in the space sector. This commitment translates into a multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary curriculum that includes, for example, the Exogeography, Astropolitics, and Space Economy program, the Master in Space Law and Geopolitics at the Luiss School of Law, the Master in Space Economy at the Luiss Business School, and the Training Course in Space Journalism organized by the School of Journalism. The aim is to prepare professionals capable of integrating diverse fields of knowledge and addressing the transversal issues of the new space age."

"The task of a research center like CISS is to generate strategic thinking to support public decision-makers in Italy and Europe: space is a fundamental asset of the future, a critical infrastructure and a terrain for new policies," said Angelino Alfano, president of Luiss CISS. "To address the challenges of the new space age," added Alfonso Giordano, head of the CISS Sphere unit, "we need an interdisciplinary vision and an educational ecosystem in which the social sciences dialogue with the technical sciences, to address a complex and now pervasive field."