This project follows a cultural and scientific cooperation agreement (see link below) between Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale (SIA-Sapienza) and Ecole Supérieure privée de l'Aéronautique et des Technologie (ESAT University) of Tunis-Carthage signed in 2023 and in response to the call from Sapienza:  "Progetti di cooperazione con istituzioni universitarie in paesi in via di sviluppo - anno 2023". 

The project aims to combine and leverage the complementary expertise of Sapienza University of Rome (SIA) in space systems and ESAT University in aeronautical engineering, with the goal of advancing high-efficiency photovoltaic technologies for space and civil applications.

Both institutions are located close to major airports, SIA near Rome Urbe Airport and ESAT near Tunis-Carthage Airport,  and operate in closely related aerospace domains. While SIA brings strong experience in space power systems, ESAT contributes recognized expertise in aeronautics and applied engineering. This technical proximity and complementarity enables effective collaboration within the project’s €15,000 budget.

The project includes reciprocal mobility of professors and researchers, joint training and laboratory activities, and the procurement of hardware for the assembly and thermo-vacuum testing of a small satellite power subsystem. In parallel, feasibility studies will explore the adaptation of space-grade photovoltaic technologies for terrestrial and industrial applications.

The project will conclude with dissemination activities targeting the general public, students, and specialized stakeholders, including academics, industry professionals, and institutional actors. Further details are available in the dedicated project pages accessible via the button below.

 SIA-Sapienza has a very interesting history of collaboration with African countries because from 1962 until 1988 it was operating a spaceport in Malindi (Kenya) and until few years ago it was operating the ground segment of the base (now given to the Italian Space Agency, though the ownership is still of Sapienza) tracking all the equatorial launches from the Kourou spaceport in French Guyana as well as many scientific satellites. Due to this long cooperation history, SIA has extended the collaborations also with other African countries. Prof. Giovanni Laneve of SIA has several programs in collaboration with African countries (Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique) on Earth remote sensing. In September 2022 Dr. Fr. Tobechi from Nigeria, a collaborator of SIA since 2015, has organized with SIA a Summit with many participants, mainly from Africa, EU and US (including one of the Directors from NASA). For more details visit the page in this website by clicking on the button below.