The Republic of San Marino has officially signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 74th country to join the international framework for peaceful space exploration cooperation. The signing ceremony took place during the Beyond Exploration Expo in Rimini, where Secretary of State for Industry Rossano Fabbri signed the accords in the presence of U.S. Consul General Joe Tordella and NASA's Europe representative Gregory Mann.
The Artemis Accords, established by NASA and the U.S. State Department, set out principles for responsible space exploration, including transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, registration of space objects, and the sustainable use of resources. San Marino's participation signals its intent to integrate its domestic industries into international aerospace value chains and to attract foreign investment through a streamlined regulatory environment.
«We are here to structure a reactive and competitive ecosystem,» Fabbri said, outlining the strategic value of the agreement. «We are not seeking a facade presence. We want to offer foreign investors a unique regulatory and operational framework capable of integrating our companies into international aerospace value chains. Dialoguing on equal terms with major global agencies and signing agreements of global relevance demonstrates that the Republic possesses the logical tools and determination to act as a catalyst for innovation.»
The signing capped a three-day event that brought together institutions, universities, and corporate finance representatives. The inaugural session focused on presenting a draft framework law designed to provide clear timelines and immediate responses to private operators. Subsequent working sessions shifted to the operational realities of the market, with initial contacts already established between San Marino officials and industry stakeholders.
San Marino's approach combines its sovereign status with a new regulatory architecture aimed at offering certainty to private space companies. The institutional direction, promoted by the Congress of State in implementation of directives from the Next Economy Forum, seeks to position the small republic as a hub for space-related business and innovation. The strategy reflects a broader trend among smaller nations to carve out niches in the rapidly growing commercial space sector.
During the expo, Fabbri also met with Colonel Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force astronaut who previously piloted the Axiom-3 mission to the International Space Station and was awarded the Knight of the Order of Sant'Agata honor during San Marino Aerospace. The two discussed prospects for the space sector, underscoring the interest that San Marino's path has generated among established space professionals.
The Artemis Accords now include 74 signatories, a group that has expanded steadily since the framework was introduced in 2020. For San Marino, the signature represents more than a symbolic gesture. It is part of a calculated effort to build a legal and industrial ecosystem that can compete for a share of the New Space Economy, leveraging its agility as a small state and its willingness to adopt novel regulatory models.
Officials framed the agreement as a foundation for deeper collaboration with international space agencies and private investors. By aligning with the accords, San Marino aims to facilitate partnerships that could bring aerospace research, development, and manufacturing activities to its territory. The next steps will likely involve translating the framework law into concrete incentives and operational guidelines for companies seeking to establish a presence in the republic.