stand

Effebi at the ninth edition of SEAFUTURE

Effebi at the ninth edition of Seafuture

Italian boat builder Effebi is taking part in Seafuture 2025 at La Spezia Naval Base (29 September-2 October)
with its exhibition stand (A-07). Effebi specialises in the military sector and is renowned for its ability to combine
outstanding operational flexibility with its forty years’ experience in the construction of vessels up to 50 metres
in length.
“We chose to take part in Seafuture since its very first edition because we immediately recognised its strategic
value and importance as a venue for engagement with representatives of the Italian Navy and international
military delegations. Seafuture is a vital opportunity for highly specialised operators and the entire naval sector
to meet and exchange ideas. Over the last few years, we have delivered vessels having very different features
and serving multiple purposes, which testifies to the versatility of the entire Effebi team and the outstanding
quality of their work” – Effebi’s Managing Director, Katia Balducci.
Effebi confirms to be a reference operator for institutional clients like the Italian Tax Police, the Guardia di
Finanza, with whom a solid partnership was developed and strengthened in recent years. Effebi’s vessels stand
out for their strong focus on eco-sustainability, operational functionality, crew comfort, and safety.
Since 2020, Effebi has built and delivered prototypes in the following lines:
44-metre Coastal Patrol Vessel
Delivered in June 2021, the ‘Tenente Petrucci’ is one of the most advanced units currently used by the Guardia
di Finanza. Effebi’s prototype combined advanced military solutions, safety, and maximum comfort for the
crew, underscoring Effebi’s excellence at both design and construction. This contract was secured through a
tender launched by the Guardia di Finanza and co-funded by the EU as part of the Internal Security Fund
(FRONTEX).
16.5-metre class V 8000 high-speed patrol boat
This super-fast, innovative unit can safely reach a speed of 68 knots. Designed for military use, including pursuit
and boarding operations to counter illegal trafficking, it can boast excellent manoeuvrability. The Guardia di
Finanza recently signed an additional contract for the delivery of 11 more units.
Patrol boats for internal waters – 8.5-metre VAI 300 class for Venice and marine protected areas
Conceived to navigate in environmentally sensitive lagoon areas, these units combine limited size, excellent
manoeuvrability, and noiseless hybrid propulsion, ideal for delicate ecosystems subject to specific requirements.
After testing the prototype, in 2022 the Guardia di Finanza signed an additional contract for a further 20 units. To
date, 13 patrol boats have been delivered, with order completion scheduled for 2026.
22-metre Fast Patrol Vessel for the Police Maritime of the Principality of Monaco.
A unit specifically developed for the Police Maritime of Monaco was delivered in 2021. In addition to standard
patrol operations, this unit can also conduct complex rescue operations thanks to a powerful firefighting
system and a platform that can be lowered down to sea level. In this case too, Effebi proved its ability to
adapt to international operational contexts and meet the specific needs of institutional clients.

Established in 1983 by the Balducci family, who keep running the business to this day, Effebi is now an
international benchmark in the processing of fibreglass and composite materials. The Company operates in the
commercial and military sectors under the Effebi brand and in recreational boating with the Mangusta,
Mangusta GranSport, and Mangusta Oceano brands.
Effebi can rely on three shipyards based in Tuscany – in Massarosa, Massa and Carrara-Avenza -, totalling an
operating area of more than 72,500 sq.m. All processes, from design to lamination, all the way to the final
assembly, are carried out in-house – an approach which guarantees a high level of specialisation, the strictest
quality control, and unparalleled construction consistency, in full compliance with ISO 9001:2015 (quality) and
ISO 14001:2015 (environment) certifications.
“Effebi is a family business built on strong foundations and a strategic vision for the future. Our most distinctive
quality is the ability to treat each project as unique, developing customised solutions that perfectly meet our
clients’ needs. Painstaking care for detail, design flexibility, and a high level of specialisation are the pillars on
which we’ve always built our value” – Effebi’s Managing Director Katia Balducci
Effebi is recognised and certified by the leading international registers of shipping (RINA, Lloyd’s Register,
Bureau Veritas, ABS) and keeps investing in research and innovation, with a special focus on sustainability and
safety.

WhatsApp Image 2025-09-15 at 10.34.08

ELT Group: Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Shaping the Future of Defence

ELT Group: Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Shaping the Future of Defence

ELT Group, which has been engaged in electronic warfare and defence for over 70 years across the land, sea, air, space, cyber and bio-defence domains, embraces new scenarios—such as the convergence of the Defence and Cyber worlds—and the complex challenges of the present, turning them into tangible opportunities to build a safer, more stable and sustainable world, also through strategic partnerships with highly qualified organisations. At Seafuture, your company will focus particularly on these issues in relation to artificial intelligence, with speakers of great significance. What are the concrete scenarios for the future applications and strategies of artificial intelligence, and what will be the key points under discussion?

For over seventy years, ELT Group has been a leading player in the field of Electronic Warfare (EW), operating across all strategic domains: land, sea, air, cyber, more recently, space and bio-defence. Today we face an increasingly complex international context, where the boundaries between conventional and cyber threats are becoming ever more blurred. It is therefore essential to be able to turn these challenges into opportunities in order to gain a competitive advantage.

It is precisely with this mindset that ELT Group embraces the convergence between electronic defence and cyber security, investing in advanced, sustainable and integrated solutions, including applications for so-called unmanned systems. Our strength lies in our ability to provide multi-domain solutions, enabled by electromagnetic spectrum management, which the company has now enhanced with cyber expertise.

In a world undergoing rapid transformation, marked by the growing complexity of threats, only a multidisciplinary, integrated and cooperative approach can ensure security and stability. Military operations are increasingly shifting towards the System of Systems, a super-system enabled by the interconnectivity, integration and cooperation of all available assets in the operational theatre. This requires the dynamic management of enormous volumes of data, the processing and constant updating of situation awareness in real time, and the coordination of rapid, integrated responses between complex systems and sensors distributed across both manned and unmanned platforms.

For ELT Group, this transformation is not limited to the introduction of cutting-edge technologies; it also opens up complex and stimulating scenarios involving strategy, interdisciplinary collaboration and forward-looking vision. We regard artificial intelligence (AI) as an indispensable resource. At a time when information superiority, real-time decision-making and data security are increasingly critical factors, AI is emerging as a key enabler in supporting new operational paradigms.

From strategic considerations to practical case studies, the conference organised by ELT Group within the framework of SEAFUTURE aims to examine how AI is reshaping the Defence Industry–Public Administration ecosystem with a holistic vision, bringing together experts from the industrial, institutional and academic sectors to explore its enabling role in the digital transformation process and to foster a concrete dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in the Defence & Security domain.

For your company, the essence of innovation lies in shaping technologies and global protection. Innovation is at the core of our daily work. Each year, the company invests around €50 million in R&D, through both funded projects and self-financing. Our goal is to ensure that ELT Group’s engineering expertise can anticipate emerging threats and continue to generate increasingly innovative and sustainable solutions for the protection of people, assets and data. Shaping Technologies, Global Protection is our corporate claim, encapsulating this ambition.

Our commitment to innovation has enabled us to evolve beyond being solely a company specialised in Electronic Defence, becoming instead a global player that integrates diversified expertise and operates worldwide through commercial networks and foreign subsidiaries. It has allowed us not only to constantly enhance traditional technological solutions in the field of Electronic Warfare, but also to extend them into other domains such as cyber, underwater and space. It has also enabled us to look towards new markets, such as bio-defence.

For your company, “To evolve means to embrace challenges”. Which challenges are we referring to, and what role can ELT Group play in the near future for people and nations in terms of security and defence?

The ability to evolve, to innovate and to keep pace with the times is embedded in our company’s DNA. For a high-technology enterprise, the capacity to understand new developments in the field of security and to adapt to them—or even anticipate them—is of vital importance, as it ensures competitiveness in a rapidly changing market. Without innovation, a company risks becoming obsolete and missing opportunities for growth and success, whereas investment in this area creates the conditions for cutting-edge solutions. Ultimately, it is a key factor for success, fostering innovation across all fields: technology, management and generational renewal.

ELT Group has distinguished itself among major companies thanks to its specialisation in niche areas combined with continuous technological innovation. Today, in a context dominated by the multi-domain approach, our seventy years of experience in managing the electromagnetic spectrum allow us to remain highly competitive. Over the years, we have operated across all the traditional defence domainsair, naval and land—to which we later added cyber and space. Today, particularly in the new scenarios of conflict, we have seen how cyber and space defence have become central to gaining operational advantage. The centrality of these emerging domains has, in turn, brought back into focus the strategic role of the electromagnetic spectrum, which more broadly acts as a unifying element, enabling synergy across military operations in all domains: air, land, naval, space, cyber and underwater.

For you, being a sustainable company means “taking part in the collective effort to grow through innovation”. How so?

ELT Group’s capacity for innovation is founded on the knowledge and expertise it has acquired in managing the electromagnetic spectrum, enabling the development of non-conventional technological solutions for the Defence and Security of people, assets and data.

ELT Group’s innovation and systems are conceived and developed to address current challenges while being ready to manage future scenarios, not only in operational security contexts but also in the protection of critical infrastructure and, today, in the field of bio-defence.

This intensive activity has led to the creation of sovereign strategic technologies, which are more relevant than ever. Within the company, the process of idea development and maturation follows the Design Thinking model, a multidisciplinary approach that makes it possible to identify and design solutions and suggest practices that foster innovation, improving products, the quality of processes, their efficiency and their impacts.

This strong orientation towards innovation is driven by the company’s internal research and development activities, while at the same time being a broader, shared process extended to national and international partners, thereby creating an innovation ecosystem from which the company can benefit.

Contact us to secure your stand at SF25!

SF NEWSLETTER MI 1080x1080

The Italian Ministry of the Interior will participate in SEAFUTURE 2025

The Italian Ministry of the Interior will participate in SEAFUTURE 2025

We are proud to announce the participation of the Italian Ministry of the Interior at SEAFUTURE 2025, with its own institutional stand. This presence strengthens SEAFUTURE’s role as a leading European platform for security, innovation and institutional cooperation.

As Italy’s highest authority on public security, the Ministry of the Interior will make a substantial contribution to address the most critical challenges, including homeland security, the protection of critical infrastructures, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, emergency response, and surveillance operations. The Italian Ministry of the Interior will present institutional strategies, operational models and cutting-edge technologies to support national security objectives.

For exhibitors, this represents a unique opportunity to engage directly with institutional stakeholders, present technological solutions to experts in public safety, and establish themselves as active participants in a sector that is constantly evolving and of increasing strategic importance. The presence of the Italian Ministry of the Interior will provide an authoritative view of the Italian public safety system and the latest developments in the sector.

Contact us to secure your stand at SF25!

SF25_Delegations_copertina

Over 140 FOREIGN DELEGATIONS from more than 90 countries invited at SF25

Over 140 FOREIGN DELEGATIONS from more than 90 countries invited at SF25

For the first time at SF25, international delegations will include representatives from Navies, National Armaments Directorate and also from the Ministry of Transport.

The invitation of over 140 Foreign Delegations offers an extraordinary opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to gain international visibility and build strategic relationships.

This edition, foreign delegation will include not only representatives from the defence sector but also Ministries of Transport, with additional ministries expected to be involved.

SMEs, with their technological excellence and innovation capacity, often face barriers to entering the global maritime and naval sector due to their size and limited resources.
At SF25, they will have the unique chance to present their capabilities directly to key decision-makers, fostering new business opportunities and enhancing their global competitiveness.

SEAFUTURE 2025 will offer a privileged and a dedicated platform for Advanced Bilateral Meetings between SMEs and Foreign Delegations.

SF_start-up

Seafuture: the deadline to participate in the “Start-up” call for proposals is 31 May

Seafuture: the deadline to participate in the “Start-up” call for proposals is 31 May

AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANIES FOCUSING ON INNOVATION AND THE BLUE ECONOMY 

Due to the numerous expressions of interest received, the deadline for the ‘Seafuture’ start-up call – “Seafuture Awards Start-up Area” – has been extended to 31 May 2025, at 5 p.m., allowing more time for companies focusing on innovation related to the blue economy to finalise their projects.

 

‘Seafuture,’ one of the leading Blue Economy fairs in Italy, will take place from 29 September to 2 October 2025, at the La Spezia Naval Base. It provides a world-class showcase for start-ups. Its format has consistently generated successful connections and synergies among national and international key players, SMEs, academics, researchers, innovative start-ups, marine and maritime technology clusters, and fosters strategic relationships and exchanges that strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of the Country System.

 

The call, launched by IBG – Italian Blue Growth, in collaboration with Ligurian Marine Technology District Scrl, will select the most deserving start-ups: the first two will be able to participate in Seafuture 2025 free of charge, while the remaining eight will have the opportunity to attend the fair for a subsidised cost of 1,000 euros each.

 

Start-ups wishing to apply must be active in the following areas of expertise: marine and maritime technologies/automation, defence, cyber & security, underwater, logistics, environmental sustainability, data analysis and monitoring, predictive maintenance, communication and connectivity, and artificial intelligence. Companies can apply only by completing the online application form available on the website www.seafuture.it.

 

Selected start-ups will receive specific services, including a dedicated and set-up exhibition space, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities to present their businesses to an audience of entrepreneurs and business decision-makers. Additionally, there will be various visibility opportunities during the event. A new feature this year is the possibility for selected companies to participate in B2B meetings via a dedicated platform.

IMG_20230608_181451

Giorgio Rech, Winner of Seafuture Awards 2023: “My Thesis is Now Open to Other Important Studies, I’m Grateful for the Experience”

Giorgio Rech, Winner of Seafuture Awards 2023: "My Thesis is Now Open to Other Important Studies, I’m Grateful for the Experience”

As we eagerly anticipate the next generation of young talents in the fields of innovation and Blue Economy at the 2025 edition of the Seafuture Awards, we take a moment to reflect on the 2023 winner, Giorgio Rech. The Seafuture Awards, promoted by the Ligurian District of Marine Technologies and Italian Blue Growth, celebrate pioneering efforts in the blue economy, and Giorgio’s remarkable project was recognised during the ninth edition of Seafuture.

Giorgio, 30, from Turin, holds a degree in energy and nuclear engineering. His award-winning thesis focused on the conversion of decommissioned oil platforms. Let’s take a closer look at his journey, the inspiration behind his project, and the developments that have followed.

1) What inspired you to present a project on the conversion of decommissioned oil platforms? Was it driven by a passion for sustainability, or did it stem from your academic background?

It was a bit of both. The idea emerged at the end of my studies in energy and nuclear engineering, particularly after participating in a post-pandemic video conference. The conference was organised by the team that would later guide me through my thesis. Led by Professor Andrea Carpignano from Politecnico di Torino, the team proposed three potential thesis topics as part of a project supported by the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE). One of these topics stood out to me: converting oil platforms into underground storage sites for a mix of natural gas and hydrogen.

At a time when energy production must become more efficient while respecting our planet, I saw this as an opportunity to combine multiple interests: energy engineering, hydrogen as a key player in the energy transition, and the environmental benefits of preserving marine ecosystems. I decided that this would be the perfect conclusion to my academic studies. I felt that with this project, I could address three critical areas—energy storage, the future of hydrogen, and the environmental challenge of decommissioning platforms. So, I applied, and after a brief interview, I was fortunate enough to be selected.

 

2) What did winning the Seafuture Awards mean to you?

Winning the Seafuture Awards was a tremendous personal achievement. It was a validation of all the hard work put in by my team and me, and all the guidance and support I received throughout the process. To see our efforts recognised by such a distinguished group, in the context of Seafuture, at the Italian Navy base se ti riferisci all’arsenale va messo at La Spezia Naval Base, alongside the Amerigo Vespucci, was incredible. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and the recognition from the Seafuture team and the broader industry.

 

3) Has your project evolved since then?

Yes, the methodology behind my thesis has continued to inspire further research. The concepts I developed were used as a reference for a study exploring the potential of converting oil platforms into permanent carbon dioxide storage sites, preventing its release into the atmosphere by confining it underground. This follow-up work was done by another graduate student, again with Professor Carpignano’s team and the RAMS&E company in Turin, where I completed my internship. The Polytechnic and RAMS&E team have continued to promote our work through scientific publications, keeping me informed of the progress.

 

4) What are you working on now?

After completing my degree, I joined a multinational company in the rail sector, located just outside Turin. Over the past two years, I’ve delved into the area of RAMS engineering (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety), focusing on the methodologies used to ensure the reliability and safety of plant systems. This field caught my attention during my studies and was also a significant part of my thesis. I still hold this position within the company, and I’m proud that my recognition at the SeafutureAwards has been met with congratulations from colleagues around the world.

Giorgio Rech’s journey demonstrates the powerful intersection of academic research, innovation, and environmental stewardship in the evolving Blue Economy. His work on the conversion of oil platforms showcases the potential for sustainable solutions in energy and the preservation of marine ecosystems. As we look forward to the next generation of innovators in the 2025 SeafutureAwards, Giorgio’s experience stands as an inspiration to young talents seeking to make a meaningful impact.

 

SF_STARTUP

SEAFUTURE supports Startup innovation: the 2025 call for applications is now open

SEAFUTURE supports Startup innovation: the 2025 call for applications is now open

Seafuture, one of Italy’s leading Blue Economy business exhibitions, will take place from September 29 to October 2, 2025, at the La Spezia Naval Base. Following the success of its initiatives for young talents, such as the Seafuture Awards, the event is now focusing on innovative startups.

The call for applications, promoted by IBG – Italian Blue Growth in collaboration with Distretto Ligure delle Tecnologie Marine, closes on March 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM. It will select the innovative startups, with two granted free participation at Seafuture 2025, while the others can attend at a reduced fee of €1,000.

The startups must operate in one of the following areas: marine and maritime technologies, automation, defense, cyber & security, underwater technologies, logistics, environmental sustainability, data analysis and monitoring, predictive maintenance, communication and connectivity, and artificial intelligence.

Applications must be submitted online here.

Selected innovative startups will benefit from a dedicated exhibition space, pitching opportunities, and networking sessions with industry leaders. They will also gain visibility throughout the event. A new feature this year is access to B2B meetings through a dedicated platform.

awards-scaled

The 2025 edition of the ‘Seafuture Awards’ is now open for submission.

The 2025 edition of the 'Seafuture Awards' is now open for submission

The talent of young people for the development of the Blue economy.

Valuing young people and their talents for the innovation and development of the Blue Economy this is the mission of the ‘Seafuture Awards’, dedicated to university students and doctoral candidates. The awards are organized by the Ligurian District of Marine Technologies in collaboration with Italian Blue Growth.

Now in its fifth edition, the Seafuture Awards, are promoted in conjunction with the ninth edition of Seafuture, Italy’s leading Blue Economy fair, which will take place from 29 September to 2 October at the Naval Base of La Spezia.  All the calls, including the admission criteria and respective deadlines, can be found here: www.seafuture.it/awards

The winners, in addition to being guests at the fair, will receive the awards  during a public ceremony to be held in La Spezia on a date to be defined.