Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, is set to travel to Washington for a two-day institutional mission aimed at strengthening industrial and technological ties between Italy and the United States. The visit, scheduled to begin Monday, focuses on key strategic sectors such as space, artificial intelligence, and critical raw materials – areas increasingly central to global competitiveness and security.
During the trip, Urso will meet top U.S. officials, including the head of NASA, in discussions designed to deepen bilateral cooperation in the aerospace sector. Italy’s space agency will also take part, highlighting a coordinated national effort to expand partnerships in a field that continues to drive innovation and advanced industrial applications.
The mission reflects a broader strategy to reinforce transatlantic collaboration at a time when emerging technologies and supply chains are reshaping global industry. Critical raw materials, in particular, have become essential for sectors like energy, defense, and digital technologies, with demand rising sharply due to the green and digital transitions. These materials – including lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements – are now considered strategic assets worldwide.
In addition to institutional meetings, the agenda includes efforts to attract foreign investment and promote new industrial partnerships between Italian and American companies. Strengthening these ties is seen as a way to boost innovation, secure supply chains, and increase competitiveness across both economies.
The initiative underscores Italy’s intention to play a more active role in global industrial policy, leveraging cooperation with the United States to address shared challenges and opportunities in high-tech sectors.
