The Space Generation Advisory Council is proud to announce Luca Ricci as one of the 2025 Pioneer Award Recipients for his outstanding contributions to the organisation. He has been nominated and voted for, by several Executive Committee Members who were part of the Jury for the Award.
About Luca
Luca Ricci is a PhD Candidate, Lawyer, and Public Officer. Currently, at the University of Rome “La Sapienza,” he works in the fields of Public Procurement, ICT, and High-Value Contract Law. In this capacity, he serves as a Procurement Officer and IT Lawyer, specializing in the legal aspects of emerging technologies, including cybersecurity, data protection, intellectual property, and contractual frameworks. He manages procurement processes for goods, services, and works of substantial economic value, while also providing legal advice for the adoption of innovative technologies within the University—contributing to the implementation of AI systems, the drafting of three-year digitalization plans, and the regulation of IT services.
Before his current position, he worked as an Assistant Contract Officer at the European Space Agency (ESA), where he gained hands-on experience in procurement, contract negotiation, and the monitoring of industrial activities. His early professional experience also includes private legal practice, specializing in civil and commercial law.
Luca is admitted to the practice of law. He holds a Master’s Degree in Law and an International Master of Public Procurement Management (IMPPM) from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” He later obtained a Master’s in Corruption and Institutional Systems with highest honors (110/110 cum laude) from the University of Rome “La Sapienza,” and a Master’s in Personal Data & Data Protection Designer®, joining the national register of privacy professionals.
Luca is also a PhD Candidate in Space Science and Technology at the University of Trento, where his research bridges legal rigor and technological innovation. His doctoral work focuses on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence, data protection (GDPR), and Space Law, exploring issues of accountability and governance of AI within the evolving legal framework of outer space.
His expertise covers international and European law, anti-corruption, public administration governance, and AI regulation. He has published several papers on Artificial Intelligence in Space, data protection, and AI governance frameworks, earning numerous awards for academic excellence and contributions to the space sector — including the ASI Competition for Italian Students and Young Researchers, the WSBW SGAC–Euroconsult Scholarship, first place in the “Mission TTX 2023” Hackathon, and the IV Edition of the My Merchandising Competition, awarded by Sapienza University of Rome.
History with SGAC
In his most recent role within SGAC, Luca served as Project Groups Partnerships Lead, overseeing cooperation agreements among eleven project groups and senior executives across the international space sector. His mandate aimed to foster cross-group initiatives, policy development, and collaborations with institutional and industrial partners.
In this position, Luca operated on a truly global scale — engaging with SGAC partners across multiple continents, conducting complex negotiations, drafting agreements, and finalizing them with autonomy and professionalism. He played a key role as a bridge between internal and external stakeholders, ensuring balance and alignment among diverse interests. His work within SGAC’s eleven thematic working groups — comprising over 7,000 members worldwide — required diplomacy, strategic vision, and the ability to foster cohesion within a highly interdisciplinary community.
It is worth noting that the Partnerships Lead position was the first of its kind within SGAC. In this pioneering role, Luca established the structural foundations, processes, and best practices that have since guided his successors. His extended three-year mandate carried strategic significance for SGAC, leaving a lasting institutional impact.
Luca also served as Event Manager for the Third Italian Space Start-up Competition, coordinating a team of ten members and securing more than eighteen sponsorships and partnerships with key organizations, including national space agencies.
While receiving this award, Luca, said:
I am deeply honored to receive the Pioneer Award. This recognition holds a special meaning for me, as it reflects not only my professional journey but also the shared values and collective spirit that define SGAC.
Curiosity — that natural thirst and desire that never finds rest — must guide our lives and shape our growth, both professionally and personally. SGAC is the space that allows us to cultivate and channel this curiosity, offering opportunities to develop our skills, engage with a global community, and transform passion into tangible contributions to the international space sector.
Space is not just out there — it’s also right here, in the people who shape its future every day. I will continue to believe in the transformative power of SGAC, following its successes with unwavering enthusiasm and passion.
