Teodoro Valente, the Italian Space Agency’s new president, has taken office at the Agency's headquarters in Rome.

Valente’s designation was recently proposed and confirmed by the Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Policies (Comint), chaired by Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy.

An expert in polymeric and composite materials and nanotechnology, Teodoro Valente took over from Giorgio Saccoccia who served as the Agency’s president for four years until early May.

ASI's new president has a long experience in the academic sector. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Sapienza Università di Roma, where he also served for several years as a Full professor of Materials Science and Technology and Deputy Rector. Before his appointment, Valente held the position of director of the Institute for Polymers, Composites, and Biomaterials (IPCB) at Italy’s National Research Council – CNR , served in the Research and Development Directorate of the EU Commission, and held various positions in the private sector.

The Italian Space Agency’s new directors are Giuseppe Basini, Marica Branchesi, Stefano Gualandris, Marco Lisi, Luisa Riccardi, and Elda Turco Bulgherini.