On the first day of Florida’s trade and business development mission to Italy, Governor Ron DeSantis announced several key partnerships designed to boost Florida’s aerospace sector and strengthen economic ties with Italy.
In a major collaboration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sapienza University of Rome signed an agreement to share research and foster academic cooperation, further supporting Florida’s rapidly expanding aerospace industry.
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Space Florida also extended an invitation to Italian aerospace companies, encouraging them to establish a presence at the Space Life Sciences Lab, adjacent to Cape Canaveral’s commercial spaceport. Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long promoted the recently launched Florida University Space Research Consortium, highlighting new avenues for innovative research and international collaboration that could place Florida at the forefront of the global aerospace economy.
“Florida’s commitment to innovation and growth continues to attract global partners,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am pleased that today has resulted in new partnerships for Florida in higher education and aerospace.”
The delegation met with Italian chambers of commerce, securing a commitment for a reciprocal trade mission to Florida, which will bring Italian business and industry leaders to explore economic opportunities in the state, hosted by Unioncamere and Lazio Innova.
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Italy ranks among Florida’s top twenty international trade partners, contributing $4.4 billion in annual bilateral trade, making this mission a strategic move to foster long-term economic growth.
“Governor Ron DeSantis is leading this mission to build long-term wins and develop our workforce and economy,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “On the first day we have seen major success, with organizations committing to reciprocal visits to Florida and the announcement that Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sapienza Universita di Roma have agreed to formalize a partnership for shared research and working towards a memorandum of understanding.”
“The growing collaboration between Florida and Italy’s aerospace industries is a testament to the vision that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez gave for Florida’s position in the aerospace economy, and research and innovation globally,” said President and CEO of Space Florida Rob Long. “By expanding existing partnerships and leveraging new opportunities across Italy’s aerospace clusters and districts in 11 different regions, we can deepen our aerospace ecosystem’s bench to benefit both economies and advance our mutual goals. Our recent establishment of a first-of-its-kind university space research consortium also opens exciting pathways for innovative international collaboration to shape the future of space commerce.”
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Additionally, Governor DeSantis held talks with Fincantieri, one of Italy’s leading shipbuilders, to explore expanding their investments in Florida’s port infrastructure, with a focus on Miami and Jacksonville.
The trade mission aims to solidify Florida’s position as a global leader in aerospace, innovation, and economic development, setting the tone for continued collaboration with Italy’s business community.
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