IRIDE’s PNRR Funding
Italy’s IRIDE satellite constellation and system of services is one of the most ambitious and strategically significant investments supported by the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza – PNRR).
Designed to modernise and revitalise Italy’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PNRR is now playing a central role in positioning the nation at the forefront of space-based Earth observation.
Strategic investment through the PNRR
The IRIDE programme benefits from a total investment of €1.07 billion, with €797 million drawn from PNRR funds and the remaining €273 million from Italy’s National Complementary Fund (NCP). This financial backing underscores the strategic importance of the project, not only as a technological achievement but also as a key component of Italy’s broader digital and environmental transformation goals.
A new model for public–private collaboration
On 22 December 2021, a pivotal agreement was signed between Italy’s Minister for Technological Innovation and Digital Transformation and the European Space Agency (ESA), formally tasking ESA with executing the IRIDE programme. As implementing partner, ESA is responsible for managing the technical and industrial development of the system (which comprises the space constellations, mission control, data processing and services) in line with the PNRR’s strict milestones and delivery deadlines.
The IRIDE programme exemplifies a multilayered model of cooperation: the Italian government and end-users define the mission’s objectives, ESA leads implementation, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) contributes technical oversight, and national industry drives production. This collaborative approach, enabled by PNRR funding, is accelerating technological progress, expanding Italy’s space capabilities and strengthening its industrial base.
By integrating space infrastructure into the national recovery agenda, the PNRR has not only unlocked funding but also catalysed a transformation in how large-scale strategic projects are managed and delivered in Italy. This will pave the way for sustainable innovation, resilience, and global competitiveness.
