ICYMI: Governor DeSantis Leads First Day of Trade Mission in Italy

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Builds New Partnership, Space Florida Promotes Innovation at Cape Canaveral, and Italian Chambers of Commerce Commit to Reciprocal Trade Missions in Florida

ROME, Italy-On the first day of Florida's trade and business development mission to Italy, Governor Ron DeSantis announces new partnerships to benefit Florida. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sapienza University of Rome have entered into a partnership to share research and increase academic cooperation as Florida continues to grow its aerospace industry.

Space Florida invited Italian aerospace companies to plant their roots in the state at the Space Life Sciences Lab to take advantage of the proximity to Florida's commercially driven spaceport system, talented workforce, and extensive commerce ecosystem. Space Florida president and CEO Rob Long also championed the recently designated Florida University Space Research Consortium, which could open innovative research opportunities for Italian companies and universities, which can shape the future of the global aerospace economy with Florida at the center.

"Florida's commitment to innovation and growth continues to attract global partners," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "I am pleased that today has resulted in new partnerships for Florida in higher education and aerospace."

In Rome, the delegates met with Italian chambers of commerce and have agreed to host a reciprocal trade mission to Florida of Italian business and industry leaders hosted by Unioncamere and Lazio Innova.

This mission is poised to create significant economic growth opportunities for Florida, as Italy is among Florida's top twenty international trade partners, contributing $4.4 billion in annual bilateral trade.

"Governor Ron DeSantis is leading this mission to build long term wins, developing our workforce and economy," said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. "On the first day we have seen major success, with organizations committing to reciprocal visits to Florida and the announcement that Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sapienza Universita di Roma have agreed to formalize a partnership for shared research and working towards a memorandum of understanding."

"The growing collaboration between Florida and Italy's aerospace industries is a testament to the vision that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez gave for Florida's position in the aerospace economy, and research and innovation globally," said President and CEO of Space Florida Rob Long. "By expanding existing partnerships and leveraging new opportunities across Italy's aerospace clusters and districts in 11 different regions, we can deepen our aerospace ecosystem's bench to benefit both economies and advance our mutual goals. Our recent establishment of a first-of-its-kind university space research consortium also opens exciting pathways for innovative international collaboration to shape the future of space commerce."

Governor DeSantis also met with Fincantieri shipbuilders to grow their investment in Florida's port industry and infrastructure in Miami and Jacksonville.

Read more about today's announcement here.
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