The Aerospace Technology District (DTA) and the U.S. company Q Station, serving SpaceWERX—an innovation unit of the U.S. Space Force and part of the AFWERX ecosystem—have launched the “International Space Accelerator Program – Powered by Q Station and DTA”, a joint initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation and supporting the development of advanced space technologies.
The program is intended for Italian and European startups, SMEs, and innovative teams operating in the space economy sector, and was created with the goal of fostering their growth and international expansion through a structured pathway designed to facilitate access to the U.S. commercial and government market.
The initiative aims to enhance the wealth of expertise, innovation, and entrepreneurial capabilities of the European system, promoting the competitive positioning of companies on an international scale. In this context, DTA and Q Station will work in coordination to select and support high-tech organizations, with particular focus on application solutions in the space sector and related domains.
Several phases are planned: an intensive in-person bootcamp at the DTA headquarters in Brindisi with U.S. mentors, a remote accelerator coaching phase lasting approximately three months, and a final phase in the United States at Q Station’s headquarters in New Mexico. During this last phase, companies will have the opportunity to present their solutions to institutional stakeholders, investors, and industrial partners, taking part in targeted meetings and networking activities, as well as visits to strategic infrastructure in the space sector.
The acceleration program is completely free of charge: the costs of activities in Italy and the United States, including accommodation during the final phase, will be covered by DTA and Q Station, with the exception of airfare.
“We are proud to have created the first space acceleration program between the USA and Italy,” said Giuseppe Acierno, President of DTA, “and to contribute to the creation of new opportunities for Italian and European companies. The partnership with Q Station and SpaceWERX will enable rapid connection with U.S. defense procurement, as well as with American investors and private companies.”
“Thanks to this partnership, we are creating a streamlined pathway that allows Italian and European companies to enter the U.S. market—connecting them with investors, customers, and key information on defense requirements and dual-use technologies—while also building a model of global cooperation that accelerates innovation on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Randy Trask, CEO of Q Station.
The signing of the agreement took place in the presence of U.S. institutional representatives, including the Mayor of Albuquerque Tim Keller, who signed the agreement in his capacity as an institutional witness, and the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, highlighting the strong interest and active support for international cooperation initiatives. The initiative is part of a broader framework of collaboration between Italy and the United States in the space sector, confirming the strategic value of bilateral relations in promoting economic opportunities, exchanges, and shared growth.
“We want to continue investing in building a solid and lasting bridge between two areas, two systems, two nations that view aerospace as a strategic lever both in the civil and defense fields, while also strengthening the ecosystem we have been dedicated to creating for years,” concluded President Acierno.
Applications will open on May 8, 2026 and close on June 15, 2026. In the second half of May, an online informational workshop will be held to present participation procedures.
