From Exoplanets To Space Tech: Italy Keens To Share Expertise With Malaysia

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- As the global race in space exploration accelerates, Italy is reaching out to like-minded nations including Malaysia to forge a new “bridge of science”, leveraging its long-standing expertise in astrophysics to drive cross-border technological collaboration.

Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) Scientific Director Dr Isabella Pagano, who led a delegation of scientists to engage with Malaysian academia and industry players, recently said Italy aims to “plant seeds” for future cooperation, especially in exoplanet research and space instrumentation.

The visit also coincided with Italian Space Day, which is celebrated annually around Dec 16 to commemorate the launch of Italy’s first satellite, San Marco 1, on Dec 15, 1964.

“Space Day was established to give us one day each year to talk about space, not only in Italy but worldwide. Our main aim is to study the universe, and to do that, we develop technologies used in space,” she told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the Italian Embassy here.

As part of the visit she also delivered a speech titled “From Starlight to Atmosphere: How Space Missions Reveal”, at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), where she shared insights into the rapidly growing interests in exoplanet - a planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.

Dr Pagano noted that while INAF focuses on exploring the universe, its scientific pursuits often drive significant and cutting edge technological advancements.

On the evolving global space landscape shaped by private players such as SpaceX, INAF Senior Researcher Dr Andrea Bianco said modern space missions are highly complex and interdependent.

Collaboration, he said, is no longer a binary choice between public and private sectors. For Italy, the priority is strengthening synergy between its scientific community and industrial sector.

INAF supports this by pursuing R&D (research and development) in niche areas where Italy holds internationally recognised strengths, including high-energy detectors and X-ray mirrors.

These technologies are often developed within INAF before being transferred to Italian companies, ensuring they remain competitive in international missions.

Commenting on regional advantages, INAF’s Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology Director, Dr Marco Feroci, highlighted the strategic value of nations near the equator.

“The equatorial orbit is the best orbit for science because it is protected by the Earth’s magnetic field,” he said.

He pointed to Singapore’s success in supporting the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of satellite missions as an example of how countries in the region can leverage their geography.

He added that Malaysia could play a key role in providing ground station infrastructure critical for maintaining satellite communication.

Despite a complex geopolitical climate, the Italian scientists stressed that science remains a neutral ground for cooperation.

The institute works closely with global partners, including the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, JAXA, and the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Dr Feroci cited the recent Chinese Tianwen-2 mission launched in May 2025, which carries an Italian instrument to study an asteroid and a comet.

“Science is a beautiful bridge to build collaborations between countries without barriers,” Dr Pagano said.

-- BERNAMA