Spatial innovation speaks Italian

While one sends satellites into orbit, the other collects and analyses the data obtained by observing Earth from space: both partners in this union within the aerospace industry are Italian companies in which Terna has taken a special interest, whether through innovation projects or with targeted investment in the development of new activities in the field of satellite technologies, to explore advances with useful potential for the management of the electricity transmission grid.

D-Orbit, a leader in space logistics in which Terna has invested through the Terna Forward venture capital vehicle, and Planetek Italia, which specialises in geospatial data analytics and with which the Group collaborates on innovation projects, have announced a business partnership which will result in an enterprise boasting 500 employees and revenues of 45 million euros. With this move, D-Orbit — the Como-based leader in space logistics and orbital transport — has acquired 100% of the shares in the Planetek Group, a company based in Bari and active in Earth observation, geospatial analytics and mission software.

This joining of the two companies, representing segments within the same aerospace value chain, means that Terna will have a relationship with an integral player in the sector with the capacity to support the Group in developing new applications linked to satellite technologies, both for monitoring territory and for communications, which are strategic factors for the Italian TSO.

The partnership was announced by Italian Minister for Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, who declared: «The agreement between D-Orbit and Planetek Italia shows how important and how widespread the Italian aerospace ecosystem is across our nation. It consists not only of major players and global leaders, but also of hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises growing in 15 industrial districts and the four Space Factories created thanks to the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan».

Indeed, this combination of the two companies represents a significant step forward in terms of the role played by Italy and its wealth of talent within the space economy. Thanks to Planetek’s experience and capabilities, D-Orbit will be able to implement solutions to process and analyse data in space, rewriting the most basic rules for the collection and management of information.

«This is a crucial agreement between two of Terna’s strategic partners, which will combine their highly advanced skills and cutting-edge technologies», commented Carla Napolitano, Head of Innovation at Terna. «This synergy is also extremely promising for the development of new solutions for Terna», continued the manager, who is also the CEO of Terna Forward, «if it is true that the use of satellite constellations for terrestrial observation and data transmission is proving to be increasingly important for monitoring territories and infrastructure, including as part of designing and constructing new projects».

Satellites are vital in the management of electricity transport infrastructure for two reasons: on the one hand, they make it possible to monitor the condition of the grid, even during extreme weather events; on the other, the satellites serve as communication tools, providing Terna with the data necessary for the day-to-day development and maintenance of its infrastructure.

The collaboration between the two companies is a sign that the sector is maturing and consolidating, as it brings together two players at separate points along the same industrial value chain: launching satellites into space and providing a data collection and analysis service. These two segments of the value chain coming together shows that the industry is evolving and can generate synergy both economically and in terms of service quality.

Redefining how information from space is made accessible, analysed and used is a major step which the two companies aim to achieve partly by making use of artificial intelligence. In fact, D-Orbit and Planetek recently collaborated on a mission involving AI-eXpress. This innovative technology leverages AI and blockchain technology to enhance satellite reactivity, enabling them to take decisions like identifying the most useful data autonomously, rather than waiting for instructions from Earth.

The excellence of these enterprises was precisely what convinced Terna to invest, through different channels, in both of the companies, which have now joined forces to create a new entity with immense potential for growth. The initiative confirms the interest of the Italian National Electricity System Operator in developing innovative solutions even in sectors that are not directly connected to its business but are focused on innovation and the most modern technologies. In fact, in Italy, Terna stands out among the companies that use venture capital with both direct and indirect investments, concentrating on start-ups like Wesii, Unusual, Mela Works, and, of course, D-Orbit. This is the sector in which the team led by Ruggero Recchioni, Head of Ventures & IP Management at Terna, works.

«With Terna Forward, the venture capital vehicle created in 2022, our company has demonstrated foresight with investments in innovative solutions, confirming it as a business on the cutting edge», emphasises Recchioni. The vehicle is built on a fund of 50 million euros, around 70% of which Terna has already committed to or spent on open innovation initiatives.