It ended on May 31 in Washington Workshop "IT-US Defense, Science & Technology Dialogue", at the Italian Embassy and the Air Force Office Science & Research (AFOSR) – Basic Research Innovation and Collaboration Centre. The event was divided into three days of technical seminars and TIEM (Technical Information Exchange Meetings) meetings, followed by networking moments, attended by 100 Italian delegates from companies, research centres, universities, with particular reference to technological innovation applied to the aircraft, spacecraft and strategic products sector. In the USA, the aerospace industry remains one of the most significant sectors, thanks to the stimuli that come from new NASA programs, such as “Exploration Initiative” and “Space Launch System Program”. Air traffic is also increasing, at the expected rate of +4,9% over the next 20 years.
ICE - Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies contributed to the organization and promotion of the event, by virtue of the fact that the Italian aerospace industry continues to play a driving role in the economy of the Belpaese, characterizing itself as one of the high-tech sectors capable of producing innovations capable of generate positive cascading effects also on other national industrial areas. In the US market, Italian sales in the sector exceeded 1,2 billion in 2012, also thanks to a galaxy of small and medium-sized enterprises that operate throughout the supply chain, from production, to marketing, to assistance and training services. In the first quarter of 2013, purchases of Italian products and technologies from the USA increased by more than 380 million (+36% on 2012), where the Italian aerospace industry is positioned as the fourth player in Europe, seventh in the world and whose projection is global.
