Intesa Sanpaolo, the European Investment Bank andEuropean space agency join forces to support the growth of small and medium-sized Italian enterprises active in theaerospaceThe new two-year agreement, the first of its kind signed in Europe, will allow the activation of up to 300 million euros in funding earmarked for supply chain investments. The agreement aims to expand access to credit for the most innovative companies, promoting the production of satellite systems, the development of space and telecommunications infrastructure, investment in research and development, and expansion into international markets.
The agreement was presented in Turin during the conference "Finance and Aerospace: The Challenges of Creating Italian Global Champions," organized by Intesa Sanpaolo in collaboration with Confindustria.
€150 million from the EIB to activate new financing
La EIB will make 150 million euros available through the Space Lending Facility. The resources will generate leverage for up to €300 million in new medium- and long-term loans granted by Intesa Sanpaolo. The mechanism provides for credit risk sharing between the EIB and the Italian bank. The EIB will guarantee 50% of each loan, which can have a duration of up to 11 years and include a 12-month grace period.
The goal is to support companies with long development cycles, significant research investments, and a prevalence of intangible assets, factors that often make accessing traditional credit channels more difficult.
“With this first operation in Europe to support SMEs in the space sector, carried out together with Intesa Sanpaolo and ESA, the EIB confirms its commitment to strengthening the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of European industry in a key sector for innovation, security and digital transition,” declared Jasmine Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank. According to Vigliotti, the collaboration will enable the transformation of industrial expertise and excellence into "investments, skilled employment, and greater competitiveness on international markets."
Intesa Sanpaolo strengthens its support for the supply chain
Intesa Sanpaolo is the first European bank to start a collaboration with EIB and ESA as part of the new initiative. The agreement was signed by the Banca dei Territori Division, led by Stephen Barrese, and provides not only financing, but also specialized consulting, internationalization tools, and collaboration opportunities between companies. "The Italian aerospace industry is characterized by the presence of companies that are sometimes very small and highly specialized, connected to larger companies by complementary needs that are well represented in the industrial supply chain," explained Barrese. The head of the Banca dei Territori Division emphasized that the agreement provides companies with "financial tools, specialized consulting, and networking opportunities to meet the challenges of global markets."
The group has already over 500 SMEs in the aerospace sector financed, having disbursed more than one billion euros and reached an estimated 33% market share. Intesa Sanpaolo is also the first European commercial bank to join the ESA Investor Network.
The bank has structures dedicated to the analysis of technologies, support for European programs, and support for growth operations through debt and equity. The agreement with the EIB and ESA complements the instruments already available for SMEs and mid-caps, through which Intesa Sanpaolo plans to support new loans totaling over €2 billion in 2026.
ESA's contribution and the challenge of access to capital
The European Space Agency will participate in the initiative by making available technical and industrial skillsESA will also help promote financing opportunities among companies involved in its contracts and in its most technologically intensive programmes. "For many SMEs in the space sector, the main obstacle to growth is not technology, but access to capital," said ESA Director General J.osef Aschbacher.
According to Aschbacher, the agreement offers Italian companies "a concrete opportunity to grow, compete globally, and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in the space sector."
The collaboration developed following ESA's European Ministerial Council last November and aims to build a more connected industrial ecosystem. Areas covered include satellite and geolocation systems, space infrastructure, telecommunications, research, and internationalization processes.
An Italian supply chain with 7 billion in added value
The agreement involves one of the most dynamic sectors of the Italian economy. In 2025 the national aerospace industry It generated an estimated added value of around 7 billion euros and exports of 8 billion, corresponding to 1,2% of manufacturing exports.
La the supply chain employs over 50.000 people It includes activities related to aerospace vehicle manufacturing, repairs, satellite telecommunications, software, electronics, engineering, and mechanics. Alongside the large groups, there are numerous highly specialized SMEs, active in high-tech niches and integrated into national and international production chains.
Globally, according to data from the Space Foundation reported in the document, the Space Economy It reached a value of $613 billion in 2024, a 7,8% increase from the previous year. Estimates indicate growth to around $800 billion by 2027 and to $1 trillion by 2032.
These numbers make access to capital increasingly crucial for Italian companies to scale up, accelerate the industrialization of technologies, and compete in the international space race.
