SpaceFounders has been awarded the inaugural “Via Raetia – Innovation and Partnership” Award by ITALCAM, the Italian Chamber of Commerce Munich-Stuttgart.
The award was presented on May 21, 2026, during the 100-year anniversary celebrations of ITALCAM in Munich and recognizes organizations, institutions and companies that strengthen the relationship between Germany and Italy through innovation, sustainability and long-term collaboration.
A Symbol of German-Italian Collaboration
The award takes its name from the historic Via Raetia, the Roman trade route connecting Verona and Augsburg almost 2,000 years ago. At a time when European innovation ecosystems are becoming increasingly interconnected, the award highlights initiatives that continue to build bridges across borders today.
For SpaceFounders, the recognition reflects the international and collaborative nature of the program itself.
Since 2021, SpaceFounders has supported European SpaceTech startups through acceleration, mentorship and access to industry, investors and institutional stakeholders. The program brings together actors from across the European space ecosystem and operates through collaboration between the French space agency CNES, the Italian space agency ASI and the University of the Bundeswehr Munich.
At the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, SpaceFounders is also part of the dtec.bw innovation ecosystem, further strengthening the connection between research, entrepreneurship and European technology development.
Recognizing European SpaceTech Ecosystem Building
The award was accepted on behalf of the SpaceFounders consortium by Andreas Heitmann, Managing Director Germany, together with Prof. Dr. Geralt Siebert, Vice President for Research at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich and SpaceFounders Lead at UniBw Munich, and Leon Krafczyk, Communications Lead at SpaceFounders.
The jury included representatives from UnternehmerTUM, LMU Munich and Süddeutsche Zeitung, underlining the broad institutional and economic relevance of the award.
For SpaceFounders, the recognition is also a signal of the growing importance of cross-border collaboration in the European SpaceTech ecosystem. As the European space sector continues to evolve, stronger connections between startups, research institutions, investors and industry players are becoming increasingly important for long-term competitiveness and technological sovereignty.
What’s Next
SpaceFounders currently supports startups across France, Germany and Italy and has built a network of founders, mentors, investors and institutional partners across Europe.
Receiving the Via Raetia Award reinforces the importance of this European approach and highlights the role of collaboration in shaping the future of the continent’s SpaceTech ecosystem.