Bentivoglio (Bologna), 12 November 2025 – The fourth edition
of the Near Future Submarine (NFS) Technology Workshop marked another important
step forward for the underwater technology community. This year’s event was
hosted at the headquarters of Marposs S.p.A.
With more than 50 companies taking part, alongside several
international defence representatives, the workshop once again confirmed its
position as a key annual milestone for innovation, collaboration, and
industrial dialogue in the underwater dimension of the maritime domain.
The morning session opened with a welcome from Marposs,
followed by updates and insights from the OCCAR U212 NFS Programme Division,
Fincantieri, the National Underwater Hub, and a presentation on a
research-to-business transition delivered by the National Research Council and
QTI. Each speaker offered a unique perspective on current progress, emerging
technologies, and the strategic direction of the underwater sector.
A round table discussion moderated by Mr. Luca Peruzzi,
featuring contributions from VAdm (ret.) Dario Giacomin, Prof. Paolo De Natale,
and Capt. (N) Giampiero Ranieri, followed.
The conversation sparked fresh ideas, blending technical
depth with strategic vision, and encouraged participants to look beyond the
immediate horizon.
As in previous editions, the afternoon was dedicated to
structured Government-to-Business (G2B) and Business-to-Business (B2B)
sessions. These meetings have become a defining feature of the workshop, giving
companies the opportunity to engage directly with defence representatives and
potential industrial partners. For many participants, this is where the
workshop’s true value becomes most tangible: practical opportunities, new
collaborations, and the first steps toward future technological advancements.
In his closing remarks, the NFS Programme Manager
highlighted OCCAR’s role in streamlining processes and supporting coordinated
work between institutions and industry. The focus was placed on accelerating
what truly shapes progress — system design, technical exchanges, and decision
cycles — and on a community that acts as an effective incubator of technologies
through cooperation, competence, and a shared vision.
This fourth edition demonstrated once again that the
workshop is more than just an annual event. It is a growing community, a
platform for innovation, and a strategic meeting point for all those working to
advance underwater technologies and support the evolution of future submarine
capabilities.
