Finland and Italy industrial cooperation in focus in Turin and Rome

Business Finland agency, in cooperation with the Finnish Embassy in Rome invited Finnish companies to join its Team Finland visit to Rome and Turin in Italy, on 1-3 December, 2025. The visit was arranged in conjunction with Aerospace and Defence Meeting Torino and led by Mr. Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development. This visit offered Finnish companies with advanced dual-use technology a unique opportunity to engage with potential clients and commercial partners. The program was designed to multiply high-level commercially relevant contacts and significantly deepen understanding of market opportunities in Italy. The biannual A&DM Torino is the only international matchmaking event for the aerospace and defense industry in Italy. It connects OEMs and their Tier 1 & 2 suppliers* with manufacturers and service providers from both civil and defense aviation, through individually tailored one-to-one meetings. This edition focused on big data and digital transformation, advanced air mobility as well as commercialization of the space sector and lunar ecosystem. At the A&DM Torino the participating companies will have access to the Team Finland exhibition space where they can book meeting slots and have other networking opportunities.

Market opportunity

The Italian aerospace sector is one of the largest globally, ranking 7th in the world and 4th in Europe by revenue and workforce. It represents Italy's largest manufacturing sector for high-tech integrated systems. Industrial production of the sector includes civil and military aircraft, satellites, and spacecraft modules for international missions. Turin (Piedmont) alone is a leading global aerospace hub with a turnover of over 14 billion €. Sectoral growth focuses on advanced integrated systems such as radars, flight recorders, engine control instruments, and drone development. There is also significant activity in repair, engines, and other components, including propulsion systems for civil helicopters and regional aircraft. The industry relies on a dense and technologically advanced supply chain, with leading companies supporting thousands of SME suppliers. Key players in the market include Leonardo, Fincantieri, GE Avio Aero, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Avio S.p.A., and Elettronica. In addition, a vast network of over 300 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) forms a significant part of the industry, with 85% of the Italian Aerospace Industry Federation (AIAD) members being SMEs.

Two ministers’ meeting

Rome and Helsinki are strengthening their strategic partnership, laying the groundwork for more intense industrial and technological cooperation in sectors vital to European competitiveness. Adolfo Urso, Italy's minister of Business and Made in Italy, met with minister Ville Tavio, in Rome, in the presence of Ambassador Matti Lassila, to define a joint plan focused on emerging technologies, space, and cybersecurity. The primary objective of the summit was to drive bilateral and multilateral initiatives in key areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin technology, the Metaverse, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology.

Quantum Computing: a shared future

Quantum Computing featured prominently in the core of the discussions. Italy and Finland, recognized as pioneering nations in this field, agreed on the need for coordinated, long-term interventions at a European level. The joint commitment will focus on leveraging crucial initiatives, including the Quantum Flagship research and innovation program and the nascent European Quantum Academy. With a view to future governance, Italy expressed strong interest in actively collaborating on the definition of the future European Quantum Act, expected in the second quarter of 2026.

Italy's renewed spatial focus

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to space policies. Minister Urso, acting as the delegated authority for the sector, highlighted Italy's regained centrality in space, a fact confirmed by the ESA Ministerial held in Bremen. Italy will, in fact, lead the European Space Agency (ESA) Council for the next three years. As evidence of this strengthened commitment, the minister announced the participation of an Italian astronaut in the historic Artemis lunar mission and the increase of the national contribution to the ESA budget by over 13%, reaching a record figure of 3.5 billion euros. Urso proposed evaluating synergies with Finland on "dual-use" programs, with particular reference to Earth observation, secure data transmission, and autonomous access to space.

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