Topic of the research
Compared to previous decades, technological innovation today multiplies the possibilities of exploration, use and economic exploitation of outer space, and promises to do so even more in the near future. In the face of this, the world is witnessing a growing articulation of space policies, with an increasingly relevant role of private actors and diversified governance models that grant them greater or lesser autonomy. In space law, the problematic nature of a system of ‘multilevel’ sources can be observed, in the presence of: multilateral international treaties, which are difficult to update due to the need to find a broad and transversal consensus between geopolitical blocs, more limited (in terms of the subject or the number of countries involved) international cooperation agreements, national law and regulations, international and national forms of soft law, to which is added, in Europe, the dualism between the space programmes (and rules) of the European Union and the European Space Agency. The evolution of the legal framework is the expression, mediated by diplomatic forums and national and international regulatory techniques, of the rapidly evolving technological, economic and geopolitical context. This complex yet fascinating situation provides scholars with ever new and difficult questions to analyse and understand, requiring transdisciplinary approaches capable of transcending the traditional fences between academic fields.
For example, areas covered by the research activities are the following: interactions between technological innovation and technical constraints, on the one hand, and space policies and related systems of rules, on the other hand; interactions between new space economy, evolution of space policies and regulatory systems (hard law and soft law); interactions between regulation, diplomacy and geopolitics of space; international peace and military uses of space; projection in the space context, under a new light, of issues traditionally belonging to private law systems (property responsibility, contracts, liability, guarantees, etc.); adoption of common space policies and a common regulatory framework at European level; adoption of an Italian space law of general scope; adoption of an Italian space law of general scope, in the light of the evolution of national space policy; regulatory policies and approaches to the use of space and celestial bodies for scientific purposes; different regulatory approaches to space resources issues; public-private partnership in space policies and related regulatory systems; space dispute resolution methods.
The creation of an interdepartmental centre on space policies is therefore aimed at promoting advanced studies of a multidisciplinary nature in the dialogue between different fields of knowledge in order to develop new knowledge and skills that are also useful to public institutions, business, and society in the broadest sense of the term. In fact, it is necessary to initiate a debate on the scope of the changes resulting from the new space economy on the international, European and national legal systems, involving jurists, economists, engineers, physicists, geopolitics and defence and security science scholars, as well as business operators and institutional representatives. In order to do this, the Centre intends to initiate a stable exchange with university institutions and study and research centres, also from other countries, to foster the circulation of ideas and debate possible solutions to the problems that the technological change is bringing, with a view to safeguarding the key principles of space treaties and fundamental rights, in order to peacefully and collaboratively build the future civilisation of space.
Research projects
The centre intends to launch scientific projects, in which foreign centres and lecturers may also be involved, and it can also compete for funds from international, European and national institutions as well as private entities.
Seminar and teaching activities
The Centre intends to promote study initiatives aimed at students (in particular, within the framework of the newly established course ‘Space Policies and the Law’) and doctoral students, organise seminars and conferences by inviting professors and other national and foreign scholars, as well as experts also from the business field with management and operational experience.
At a later stage, the Centre may consider organising masters or specialisation courses, seeking to offer, with the support of partners and external sponsors, scholarships to those enrolled.
Publications
The Centre intends to promote publications on space law and policies, both through agreements with journals in the sector, and through publishing houses, preferably including Roma TrE-Press, in which the writings of the Centre’s scholars could be placed in open access.
Scientific Consultancy
The Centre may accept scientific consultancy assignments proposed by institutions, enterprises and their associations, or individual intermediaries, the proceeds of which are devolved to the University of Roma Tre for the operation of the Centre, in accordance with the general provisions established in this regard by the University of Roma Tre’s operating and budgetary regulations.
The Centre may carry out scientific investigations in order to respond, inter alia, to legislative and regulatory consultations proposed by all international, European and national authorities with competences in the fields of activity of the Centre.
European and national calls for tenders
The Centre intends to participate in international, European and national calls for tender for funding to support projects of interest to the Centre.
Research activities
In order to carry out its research activity, the Centre may set up thematic observatories and/or may also create one or more sub-groups of research, composed of researchers, research associates, doctoral and post-doctoral students, and other scholars, professionals and experts from outside the University of Roma Tre, whose membership is encouraged.