Italy is set to reap significant benefits from artificial intelligence. Estimates put the potential added value at €336 billion per year by 2040. That's equivalent to the entire national manufacturing sector. 

American Big Tech will invest over $750 billion in 2026 alone: ​​more than five times the entire ICT investment of the European Union.

In 2024, the Italian recreational boating industry achieved an all-time high turnover of €8.60 billion, an increase of 3.2%. Italy remains the world's leading exporter of shipbuilding.

Representatives from institutions, industry and academia discuss the global challenges that are shaping the future of the Italian boating industry, including geopolitics, artificial intelligence and new international markets. There were institutional speeches from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, ICE President Matteo Zoppas, Deputy Ministers Edoardo Rixi and Francesco Paolo Sisto, and Ilaria Cavo, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies' Productive Activities Commission.

Themes of the public session of the Confindustria Nautica SATEC 2026 Convention 

 The central themes of the public session of the Confindustria Nautica SATEC 2026 Convention are geopolitics, international trade, artificial intelligence, the transformation of supply chains, industrial competitiveness and new export markets. These are the central themes of the public session of the Confindustria Nautica SATEC 2026 Convention, entitled 'Global Winds and Digital Currents: The Future of the Nautical Industry'. The session is organised with the scientific contribution of The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA Group) and will explore strategies and scenarios for the sector in the age of global tensions and data.

The SATEC 2026 Convention was held with the support of Main Partners Alfa Romeo, BPER Banca, and Eberhard & Co., alongside Confindustria Nautica (Naval Industry Confederation) in promoting the excellence of the nautical industry and the Genoa International Boat Show, to be held from October 1st to 6th.

It is noteworthy that Borgo Egnazia in Puglia was the venue for a meeting of representatives of institutions, entrepreneurs, economists, analysts and industry stakeholders. The meeting aimed to analyse the profound changes that are reshaping the international competitive landscape and their impact on the Italian nautical industry. This industry is one of the most dynamic and internationalised expressions of Made in Italy.

 A video message from the Prime Minister 

The proceedings opened with a video message from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who stated: 'The nautical industry is one of the most advanced expressions of Made in Italy. It is a sector in which Italian quality competes globally, and manufacturing excellence becomes a source of reputation.

 A systemic vision of the sea

The government has adopted this approach to develop a systemic vision of the sea, which has led to the recent parliamentary approval of the law on the enhancement of marine resources. This marks the beginning of a new era in which the sea is finally recognised as one of the nation's strategic development assets. 

The nautical industry is a fundamental component of this asset.

The nautical industry is a fundamental component of this asset," Prime Minister Meloni continued, "and the government intends to support its simplification, accompany it in processes of innovation and internationalisation, and strengthen its development of skills. The challenge now is to implement the regulatory framework we have outlined so that businesses and regions can reap its full benefits, and so that one of the nation's most innovative, dynamic and distinctive industrial sectors can be valued as it deserves." 

The significance of the Italian nautical industry

The President of Confindustria Nautica began by expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister for acknowledging the significance of the Italian nautical industry. In his address, he highlighted the current landscape of this sector, operating within a complex global environment. This environment is characterised by the interconnection of industrial competition, international trade, technological innovation, and economic policy. The President emphasised that the ability to comprehend and predict changes in this dynamic environment is paramount for maintaining competitiveness.

Related: Italy : Cybersecurity integrated into of overall maritime security starting November 2026

The President of ICE – Italian Trade Agency, Matteo Zoppas, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Francesco Paolo Sisto (via video link), and the Vice President of the 10th Commission for Productive Activities, Trade and Tourism of the Chamber of Deputies, Ilaria Cavo, all delivered institutional speeches.

Artificial intelligence represents a historic opportunity for Italy.

Next, Corrado Panzeri, Head of InnoTech Hub & Partner at TEHA Group , addressed the topic of the new industrial revolution, declaring: “ Artificial intelligence represents a historic opportunity for Italy: our models estimate a potential of €336 billion in additional added value per year by 2040, equivalent to the entire national manufacturing sector. In a country that will lose 3.7 million workers due to demographic reasons, AI is not an option; it is a structural necessity. But technology alone is not enough: today there is a shortage of 4.5 million workers with advanced digital skills. The real bottleneck is not the machine: it is the culture of innovation and the skills of people. Meanwhile, American Big Tech will invest over $750 billion in 2026 alone: ​​more than five times the entire ICT investment of the European Union. Made in Italy has all the prerequisites to benefit from this industrial revolution, but the time to accelerate is now .”

 Italy's role as a natural hub for the Mediterranean nautical industry. 

Edoardo Rixi, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, said: 'The growth of the Italian nautical industry demonstrates the importance of ongoing dialogue between institutions and businesses. In recent years, we have worked to simplify the regulatory framework, foster the sector's development and support its evolution by providing businesses and local communities with more suitable tools. The challenge now is to continue along this path by investing in infrastructure, tourist ports and shipbuilding to further strengthen Italy's role as a natural hub for the Mediterranean nautical industry. The sector's competitiveness also depends on the country's ability to support investment, innovation, and the creation of value."

AI is opening up new opportunities for the nautical

Francesco Paolo Sisto, Deputy Minister of Justice, said: 'Law, innovation and economic development are becoming increasingly intertwined. Artificial intelligence is opening up new opportunities for the nautical, port and maritime logistics industries by improving efficiency, safety and innovation capacity. It is the task of institutions to support this transformation by creating a regulatory framework that fosters growth, protects the security of digital infrastructure and supports investment in the skills needed to address future challenges. The real challenge will be to combine innovation and responsibility, leveraging the potential of new technologies while maintaining control of the processes they generate.'

 The SATEC 2026 Convention

It is noteworthy that the SATEC 2026 Convention confirmed the growing importance of the nautical industry in the country's development strategies and the sector's role as an advanced laboratory for manufacturing, innovation, and internationalisation. From geopolitics to artificial intelligence, from infrastructure to training, from industrial policies to export competitiveness, the discussion among institutions, businesses, and analysts highlighted the need for a shared vision to support the growth of a supply chain that represents one of the most dynamic, innovative, and internationalised expressions of Made in Italy.

In 2024, the Italian recreational boating industry achieved an all-time high turnover of €8.60 billion, an increase of 3.2%. Italy remains the world's leading exporter of shipbuilding, with sector exports reaching a new high in 2025 at nearly €4.4 billion, marking a 2.6% increase. The export ratio of national production is approximately 90%. The nautical industry makes a strategic contribution to Italy's trade balance. In 2024, it generated 8.6% of the manufacturing sector's national trade surplus.

Italy is the world leader in superyachts.

Italy accounts for around 18% of the global nautical production market and is the world leader in superyachts, accounting for 56% of global orders by unit and 36% of the global market value. According to the Global Order Book 2026, Italian shipyards currently have 568 superyachts under construction, accounting for 52% of global orders. The Italian nautical industry generates over 13 billion euros in added value and nearly 168,000 jobs, with employment growing by 5.6%. For every euro produced by shipbuilding, 5.2 euros of added value is generated in the Italian economy, and each employee in the sector creates 7.1 jobs along the supply chain. Start from

Source : Press - Relaese

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