Space to Earth (and back): Rimini hosts BEX, the first event dedicated to the new space economy

A revolution is coming. Or rather, it is already here and changing our lives, though we often are not aware of it. It is the New Space Economy, so called to differentiate it from the period between the Cold War and the early 2000s, which saw space activities almost exclusively in the hands of states and government agencies (NASA, ESA, Roscosmos) and when space was considered a futuristic dimension. 

From the start of the new millennium, however, and then increasingly rapidly after 2010, much has changed: private operators, led by SpaceX and Blue Origin, have made a massive entry into the sector; costs have fallen dramatically thanks to technological advances; and an open ecosystem has emerged, involving different players and sectors, from agriculture to energy, logistics to healthcare, advanced manufacturing to digital, all of which use space data, services and technologies as levers for innovation and competitiveness. Many examples of this ongoing revolution are already evident: consider the numerous items that are now part of our everyday lives but derive from aerospace research, such as memory foam mattresses, anti-glare glasses, Wi-Fi, telemedicine, miniaturised smartphone cameras and cordless vacuum cleaners.


Beyond the traditional scope of aerospace 
Out of this awareness comes BEX – Beyond Exploration, a new expo-conference dedicated to the space economy and commercial space flight, scheduled for 23-25 September 2026 at the Rimini Exhibition Centre. This innovative event, promoted by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) in collaboration with the Emilia Romagna Region, aims to place Italy at the centre of European and international debate. 

<<It will be a completely new addition to the landscape of events dedicated to space exploration: not an aerospace fair in the strict sense, but a multidisciplinary platform, in which the new space economy will be presented as a cross-cutting ecosystem, able to generate concrete benefits for the real economy, fostering dialogue between the traditional space supply chain and companies in unconventional industrial sectors, as well as universities, start-ups, research centres and institutions,>> explains Marcello Azzoni, founder and Chief Research and Development Officer of Spacewear, a clothing brand for astronauts, but also a member of the Technical Scientific Committee of BEX, a programme developed by a group of experts from complementary disciplines.  

<<The format brings together a strong B2B focus with opportunities for public outreach and education, so that anyone interested can see and learn more about how space services will change our lives over the next decade.>> With a view to nurturing new skills and visions, particular attention is paid to young people and students, with the aim of bringing them closer to the world of aerospace, in whose development they will play a leading role. <<We will strive to use accessible and understandable language, even ‘pop’ and emotional, as I like to call it, so that this new dimension can be disseminated and made as available as possible: space will be the new engine of development for humanity,>> continues Marcello Azzoni.   

 

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What will the first edition of BEX look like 
In anticipation of the first edition of BEX, IEG has initiated talks with the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the National Research Council (CNR), the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Italian Air Force, aiming to build partnerships and obtain institutional patronage. The initiative's strategic value is also highlighted by the involvement of leading institutional and scientific figures, including Colonel Walter Villadei, a professional astronaut of the Italian Air Force and BEX Ambassador. 


The BEX programme focuses on the entire value chain of the space economy: from the upstream sector, including transport systems, propulsion, space modules and orbiting stations; to the downstream sector, related to the use of satellite data for advanced services on Earth. It will feature exhibition spaces, networking and matchmaking opportunities, educational lectures, specialist workshops and hackathons for students. Additionally, autonomous multi-domain systems – space, aeronautical, terrestrial and underwater – will be showcased both as operational solutions and as experimental platforms for industrial innovation. Completing the picture is the cross-cutting “Beyond Nxt” area, devoted to start-ups, universities, research centres, government agencies, and NGOs, reflecting the desire to involve the entire innovation ecosystem. 

BEX is therefore set to become a strategic platform for the future of the Italian and European space economy, integrating skills, sectors and visions in a truly interdisciplinary perspective, in which space is no longer just about exploration but an enabling infrastructure for innovation on Earth. 
Article written by Maria Carla Rota 

This blog is a joint project by Ecomondo and Renewable Matter