Fincantieri has announced plans to invest almost $100 million in robotics, Physical AI and automation across its global shipyard network between 2026 and 2030, as it moves to bring technologies developed under its BOOST² industrial innovation programme into routine production.
Launched three years ago, BOOST² has involved more than 450 employees across 13 shipyards, with the programme focused on developing and integrating technologies around the operational requirements of shipbuilding.
The technologies include collaborative robotics and Physical AI, which allows intelligent systems to interact with the physical world, alongside digital twins for managing shipyard assets and processes, smart supply chain systems, additive manufacturing and automated industrial equipment.
The programme’s initial phase concentrated on identifying and testing technologies. The next stage, presented last week at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard in Italy, will focus on deploying applications in day-to-day operations and extending their use across the group’s production network.
“The next frontier of industrial competitiveness is bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world, integrating it with robotics and the expertise embedded in our manufacturing operations,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri.
“Today, the challenge is to accelerate their industrial deployment and adoption at scale, turning innovation into greater productivity, safety, and quality.”
Fincantieri is also working with external technology partners, including SMEs and start-ups, to develop systems tailored to shipbuilding requirements. The company said direct involvement from production teams is intended to support testing in operational environments and make applications easier to replicate across different shipyards without disrupting ongoing work.
The group is also expanding its engagement with technology developers through initiatives including a Dual-Use Hackathon scheduled to take place in Silicon Valley, aimed at identifying technologies with potential applications in future shipyard operations.
