The fourth edition of the Near Future Submarine (NFS) Technology Workshop marked another crucial 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 defense 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 Program 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 defense 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 Program 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.