In 2022, when he was Rector of the Gran Sasso Science Institute, Professor Coccia promoted and founded the Gran Sasso Tech Foundation together with engineer Massimo Claudio Comparini, then Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space Italia and now Managing Director of Leonardo SpA’s Space Division. The Gran Sasso Tech Foundation was established as an innovative non-profit research organisation through the collaboration between the Gran Sasso Science Institute and Thales Alenia Space (a joint venture between Thales, 67%, and Leonardo, 33%).
Coccia succeeds Fernando Ferroni as President. Ferroni, Professor Emeritus at the GSSI and former President of the INFN, led the Foundation from 2022 to 2025. During this first four-year period, Gran Sasso Tech increased its annual budget tenfold, launched more than 50 technological research and advanced education projects, and entered into scientific collaboration agreements with 18 international research centres, eight large companies and 25 SMEs.
Professor Coccia was appointed by the new Founders’ Assembly, which took office on 19 June and comprises engineer Comparini as President of the Assembly, Paola Inverardi, current Rector of the Gran Sasso Science Institute, as Vice-President of the Assembly, and Giampiero Di Paolo, current Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space Italia, and Elena Grifoni Winters, Professor at the GSSI, as members of the Assembly.
Professor Coccia will chair the Gran Sasso Tech Board of Directors for four years. The Board took office today at the Joint Lab of the Thales Alenia Space Smart Factory in Rome. It comprises Leonardo Mazzini (Vice-President of the Foundation), Francesco Barletta, David Della Morte Canosci (representing the Minister of Universities and Research), Michelangelo L’Abbate, Patrizio Pelliccione, Alfredo Pigiani, Marco Santangelo and Roberto Verzicco.
During today’s inaugural meeting, the Board of Directors confirmed Alessandro Pajewski as the Foundation’s Director General for a further four years, with responsibility for all its operational structures.
The renewed governing bodies are called upon to lead, over the next four years, a Foundation that employs researchers from five continents and to support its growth in the fields of advanced electronics, artificial intelligence, robotics and the development of scientific missions in space. Particular attention will be devoted to advanced education in space technologies, including within the framework of international cooperation and the Mattei Plan for the development of the African continent.
The President of the Gran Sasso Tech Foundation, Professor Eugenio Coccia, stated:”I thank Fernando Ferroni and the outgoing Board of Directors for their excellent work, and I extend my best wishes to the new Board, Director General Alessandro Pajewski and the entire Gran Sasso Tech community. This Foundation was born from a virtuous alliance between research and industry and represents a model of collaboration capable of transforming scientific knowledge into technological innovation and new opportunities for society. Great discoveries and great technologies often arise from challenges that initially appear impossible: they require vision, perseverance and the ability to bring together different areas of expertise. This is the culture we wish to strengthen by creating an environment rich in talent, where universities, businesses and institutions can work together in an international dimension.”