Table of contents
Designtech, the parent company of Startupbusiness, is organising two events at its CoFactory in Milan (pictured) between late May and early June: the first is dedicated to what we might call ‘space-living’, where the term ‘space’ refers not to living space but to outer space, whilst the second is the demo day for the 2026 edition of Design Momentum, the acceleration programme for designtech and fashiontech start-ups and SMEs run by Designtech and supported by the Lombardy Region.
Light beyond the planet Earth
‘Light Beyond Planet Earth’ raises questions such as: how will we live in space? And what will truly make extraterrestrial environments habitable? During the talk, we will explore, in an accessible and structured way, the role of light as a fundamental infrastructure for life beyond Earth. It is not merely a technical element, but a key factor for biological growth, human well-being and the quality of life in space habitats.
Through a dialogue between science, design and innovation, the exhibition explores the role of light in bio-regenerative life-support systems (BLSS) for food production and atmospheric regeneration, the impact of light on perception, biological rhythms and the liveability of spaces, and new design and industrial opportunities at the intersection of space, agriculture, architecture and advanced technologies.
The guest speakers discussing this topic are: Stefania de Pascale, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Naples Federico II; Giorgio Boscheri, Advanced Life Support Engineer at Thales Alenia Space Italia; and Piero Santoro, Lighting Technologist and Head of Technology at Meg Science.
The result is a comprehensive overview of how habitable ecosystems are designed in space, bringing together biology, technology and design. It offers an opportunity to imagine the future of life beyond Earth and to understand how this research can also drive innovation here on Earth.
‘Light Beyond Planet Earth’ is scheduled for 28 May 2026, starting at 4 pm: here you’ll find all the details and a link to take part
Design Momentum Demo day 2026
Pitches, innovation and visions for the future – this and much more at the second edition of Design Momentum, the acceleration programme promoted by Designtech to support innovation in the fashion, design, manufacturing and emerging technologies sectors. The project was co-funded under the 2021–2027 ERDF programme.
During Demo Day, the eight companies selected for this second edition will present to the public the progress of their projects and the current status of the proof of concept developed during the programme. The following companies will take to the stage: BiomimX, D’Alesio&Santoro, Framis Italia, Isola Design, Metis, Northern Light Composites, Orsini and Studio Auriga.
The event will be attended by Debora Massari, Councillor for Fashion and Design for the Lombardy Region, and will feature guests and stakeholders from the worlds of fashion, design, finance, property development and healthcare.
Design Momentum Demo Day is scheduled for 10 June 2026 at 3 pm: click here for full details and the link to join
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©
