Space Alliance wins 2024 Farnèse d’Or award
Thales and Leonardo recognized for strengthening ties between Italy and France through space cooperation under Quirinal Treaty
Rome, June 21, 2024 – Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, and his Telespazio counterpart, Gabriele Pieralli, received yesterday, on behalf of shareholders Thales and Leonardo and as representatives of the co-founding companies of the Space Alliance, the prestigious 2024 “Le Farnèse d’Or award” for their ongoing commitment to strengthening cooperation and ties between Italy and France.
The award was presented by Renato Brunetta, President of the Italian National Council for Economics and Labor (CNEL), at the third edition of the “Farnèse d’Or” Gala, held each year by the Franco-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France Italy) at the Farnese Palace, headquarters of the French Embassy in Italy. The ceremony celebrates efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries and was attended by numerous representatives of institutions and the economic and cultural spheres.
In 2005, Thales and Leonardo, through Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, created the Space Alliance to foster cooperation in the space sector based on a common technological and industrial roadmap. The two space companies have set themselves apart at European and world level through the excellence of their solutions for a better and more sustainable life on Earth.
“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award, which celebrates the ties between France and Italy, on behalf of the Space Alliance, a strategic partnership between the Thales and Leonardo groups and recognized worldwide for the successes achieved by Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio,” said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “This collaboration, which creates considerable value for our two countries and for Europe as a whole, is all the more strategic given the current geopolitical context and sovereignty issues. On behalf of Thales and Thales Alenia Space, we would like to thank the French Embassy in Italy and the Franco-Italian Chamber of Commerce for this fantastic initiative, which is particularly important for our company.”
“It’s an honor to receive the Farnèse d’Or, which is a tremendous recognition of the collaboration between Italy and France, the commitment of our shareholders, Leonardo and Thales, and the work of the Space Alliance represented by Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space,” said Gabriele Pieralli, CEO of Telespazio. “This award also encourages us to continue and further develop our strategic alliance. Italy and France are two great space powers and their cooperation is crucial to making Europe stronger, more resilient, and more independent in space. On behalf of Leonardo and Telespazio, I would like to sincerely thank the French Embassy in Italy and the Franco-Italian Chamber of Commerce for this illustrious award.”
This year, the winners were chosen for the first time by an exceptional panel of six eminent figures - Monica Bellucci, Renato Brunetta, Marie-Claire Daveu, Simone Marchetti and Claudia Parzani - and chaired by an entrepreneur as eclectic as he is visionary: Santo Versace.
About the Space Alliance
Founded in 2005, the Space Alliance is a strategic partnership between two major industrial groups, Leonardo and Thales. With more than 10 thousand employees in 12 countries, the Space Alliance combines the capabilities of two joint ventures, Telespazio (Leonardo 67%, Thales 33%) and Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67%, Leonardo 33%). Leveraging Telespazio’s and Thales Alenia Space's combined expertise, the Space Alliance offers a unique range of end-to-end solutions to operators, governments, institutions and space agencies, from satellite manufacturing to services. The Space Alliance addresses numerous space applications, including telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration, robotics, transportation systems and orbital infrastructures. It relies on this unique joint legacy to shape the future of the space sector, a future where innovation goes hand in hand with sustainability.
ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion euros in 2023 and has around 8,600 employees in 17 sites in 10 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA.
THALES ALENIA SPACE – PRESS CONTACTS
Tarik Lahlou
Tel: +33 (0)6 87 95 89 56
tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com
Catherine des Arcis
Tel. : +33 (0)6 78 64 63 97
catherine.des-arcis@thalesaleniaspace.com
Cinzia Marcanio
Tél. : +39 (0)6 41 51 26 85
Cinzia.macanio@thalesaleniaspace.com
