Phnom Penh, 16 December 2025 — Italian Space Day returned to Phnom Penh with a day full of activities celebrating space, innovation, culture, art, and international cooperation. Hosted at CamEd Business School, and organized by ItaCham, the Italian Business Chamber Cambodia, Italian Chapter in EuroCham Cambodia, the event brought together policymakers, academics, professionals, students, and the public, fostering dialogue between Italy and Cambodia, around space, while taking the opportunity to celebrate Italian’s history and achievements in the space sector. The event was held with the institutional communication support of the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space Agency) and with the support of the Cambodian Librarians Association.
Throughout the day, visitors explored an Immersive AR Space Museum, organized by the Cambodian Librarian Association, where a curated photographic exhibition on Italy’s space heritage was enhanced through augmented reality. Visitors had the chance to unlock interactive digital layers, narratives, and space-inspired experiences that bridged science, technology, and creativity using their smartphones, while seated inside an artistic reinterpretation of a spaceship, created for the event by a Khmer artist on the kind request of Mr. Casey Barnett, President of CamEd Business School, and inspired by the buffalo’s head, once a common means of transportation in Cambodia. The cultural dimension of the Italian Space Day was enriched by a Khmer Royal Ballet performance, symbolizing the connection between tradition and innovation, and connecting Italian technology and design with Cambodian heritage and arts.
In the evening a High-Level Panel Discussion on Space Applications and Space Diplomacy, offered the chance to highlight the opportunities that space and collaboration between Cambodia and Italy can offer. This was achieved through different lenses that each speaker provided: space policy, investment, and real-world applications. The panel was moderated by Dr. Riccardo Corrado, Vice Chairman of ItaCham, and Associate Professor at CamEd Business School.
The panel opened with a traditional Blessing Dance, followed by discussions started by Mr. Nam Dork, from the Satellite Policy Department, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC), who provided insights into Cambodia’s current satellite and space policy landscape, national priorities, and lessons learned from ASEAN–Italy cooperation initiatives. Mr. Tithchansopheak Lor, Deputy Director, The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), outlined Cambodia’s investment framework and incentives for foreign companies, mostly in those sectors classified as high-tech, like space technology. He also highlighted the fundamental importance for new European companies and investors interested to enter Cambodia, to connect with EuroCham (for European) and ItaCham (for Italian, who works closely with the Royal Government and institutions, and approach the competent ministries as well as the Council for Development of Cambodia, an approach that can enormously facilitate the correct and incentivized entrance in the Cambodian market. Furthermore, Mr. Bormy Chanthong, GIS Expert, showcased examples of projects involving satellite and GIS data in Cambodia, while highlighting some challenges, included the current gap in regulations for importing electronics and space-related technology, suggesting adapting the rules on imports of such devices, based on the usage: education, telecommunications, or defense. Finally, Dr. (Ms.) Anna Gregorio, Associate Professor at the University of Trieste (Italy), who joined online from Italy, discussed the role of university research, including her PICOSATS, a spin-off of University of Trieste specializing in small satellites, in fostering innovation, start-ups, and international collaboration within the space economy.
The discussion emphasized the importance of practical applications of space technologies and how Italy–Cambodia collaboration can accelerate capacity building, innovation, and sustainable development.
Italian Space Day 2025 was made possible thanks to the support of its sponsors and partners. The organizers would like to extend their sincere appreciation to CamEd Business School, Cambodian Librarian Association (under the leadership of Ms. Roseka Huy), EuroLink Cambodia, iDeal Distribution, Awesomepick, Segafredo Zanetti (Boncafe Cambodia), Annam Cambodia, Loacker, Mulino Bianco (Barilla Group), and AusKhmer, as well as to all institutions and collaborators who contributed to the success of the event. A final tanks to Dr. Riccardo Corrado, Vice Chairman of ItaCham and Associate Professor at CamEd Business School, leader in this project.
