From 29 September to 2 October 2025, the Maritime Military Arsenal of La Spezia will host the ninth edition of Seafuture, one of the most important international trade fairs dedicated to the economy of the sea.
Organized by Italian Blue Growth in collaboration with the Italian Navy and under the high patronage and support of the Ministry of Defense, the event confirms itself as a strategic hub in the Mediterranean. Seafuture is the international meeting point where small and medium-sized enterprises and Big Players can learn and share development trajectories to respond to the needs and operational scenarios of the Italian Navy and to understand and identify the needs for technological innovation in the infrastructural field in the maritime and naval sectors.
A unique event, hosted within an operational Naval Base, which has become a model of excellence, innovation and sustainability. The event, born in 2009, has continued to grow exponentially, becoming a platform for the promotion and exhibition of innovations, systems and technologies, involving companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, national institutions, international delegations, companies, students and stakeholders from all over the world.
THE NINTH EDITION
Over 350 participating companies, 90 countries involved, an exhibition area of 50,000 square meters, 60 foreign guest delegations, 4 days of events, 25 thematic panels, 44 pitching sessions, 5 live demos. These are the first numbers of the ninth edition in which the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi will participate, already confirmed, and to which the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, the Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport have been invited Edoardo Rixi.
These are the countries of origin of the participating foreign delegations: Algeria, Albania, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Cyprus, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, France, Philippines, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Djibouti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, United States, Sweden, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay and Vietnam.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, which has granted its high patronage and institutional support to ‘Seafuture 2025’, will be present as part of the Green & Blue Innovation Hub, the space that enhances energy transition and sustainability paths in the transport sector, with particular attention to the maritime and port sector, Italian strategic ports and advanced logistics.
The presence of MIT confirms the Italian Government’s commitment to the development of advanced technologies and innovative models of logistics and sustainable mobility. For the first time, Seafuture will host the highest political and institutional authorities of the Ministries of Transport and International Port Authorities from strategic areas for our maritime sector. A high-level framework that consolidates Seafuture as a reference platform for innovation and global policies in the maritime transport sector. Another novelty will be the participation of the Ministry of the Interior with an important stand in the exhibition area.
The participation of the Guardia di Finanza, the Carabinieri and the State Police is renewed, institutions that contribute to the event in a fundamental way, presenting their units and bearing witness to their operational skills in the field of citizen security and the fight against illegal trafficking.
‘Seafuture 2025’, as at every edition, will be a place for meeting, discussion, exchange of know-how and planning for small and medium-sized enterprises and international Big Players thanks to networking initiatives, business matching and pre-organized b2b/b2g meetings. Great attention will be given to startups, with a dedicated space, and to young people with the Seafuture Awards, now in its fifth edition and curated by the Ligurian District of Marine Technologies, which will reward the best innovative projects of high schools, universities and research centers also from foreign countries.
There will be about 25 thematic panels over the four days of ‘Seafuture 2025’, and will touch on priority topics collected under the following macro areas: Energy Transition, Underwater and Cyber Dimension and Artificial Intelligence, XR/VR’. All information and the complete program are available on the official website of the event: seafuture.it.
“Seafuture,” says Cristiana Pagni, President of Italian Blue Growth, “is today one of the most important trade fairs in the naval and maritime sector at an international level. The numbers and the high quality of the participants testify to this, confirming that the sea is not only a resource to be protected, but also an engine of development, innovation and competitiveness for the Country System.
Over the years, Seafuture has recorded constant growth, both in terms of attendance and international relevance, to become an essential point of reference for institutions, companies and research centers. This is the vision that has guided its path: a unique event in the world, hosted within an operational Naval Base, which has consolidated itself as a Mediterranean hub for the maritime economy. A model of excellence, sustainability and innovation, made possible by teamwork and a shared commitment.”
“The synergy between the Italian Navy and Seafuture – says the Logistics Commander of the Navy, Admiral Salvatore Vitiello – was born from the desire to promote innovation and collaboration in the naval sector. The event, now in its ninth edition, stood out as a platform of excellence for the promotion and exhibition of innovations, systems and technologies of the sea and defense, also offering an opportunity for discussion on strategic issues, making the Navy and, therefore, the Defense, an ideal partner to consolidate this initiative. Seafuture also represents an opportunity for the Italian Defence to stimulate dialogue between the various foreign navies present, helping to strengthen international collaborations, thus raising the competitiveness of the “Country System”.
THE GUESTS
In addition to the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, the Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi have also been invited to the event.Many authorities and guests will take turns during the days of the event, from representatives of foreign delegations, to the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino and the National Director of Armaments Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani, from the Commander General of the Corps of Port Authorities – Coast Guard Admiral Inspector Sergio Liardo to the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci up to Admiral Cavo Dragone, President of the NATO Military Committee.
THE PANELS There will be many moments of discussion and conferences that will follow one another during the four days of ‘Seafuture’, which will allow professionals in the sector opportunities for networking and discussion on the opportunities, challenges and strategies of sea policies and environmental sustainability. Among the most eagerly awaited panels are those related to the theme of artificial intelligence, such as ‘AI Strategy & Future’ organized by ELT Group and the one organized by BlueInvest, the European Commission’s Investment Program, which includes speakers from DG Mare and the European Investment Bank, with a focus on the theme of artificial intelligence applied to maritime innovation and start-ups. There will also be a focus on the Oceans and climate change, with an entire day dedicated to promoting knowledge and creating interdisciplinary action between Universities, Research Centers, Decision-Makers, and Stakeholders, starting from the assumption that the health of the oceans is determined on land.
YOUNG PEOPLE, THE NEW RECRUITS OF THE BLUE ECONOMY
THE ‘SEAFUTURE AWARDS’ AND THE START-UP AREA
One of the objectives of ‘Seafuture’ has always been to give space to young people and their talents for innovation and the development of the Blue Economy. The event has in fact established, curated by the Ligurian District of Marine Technologies, two awards called ‘Seafuture Awards’, one dedicated to high school students in Liguria, the other aimed at university students, in order to enhance experimental, master’s or doctoral theses, developed in industries, laboratories of University Departments or research centers, addressed to processes in the field of marine technologies, that can be used in different sectors (Dual Use) and have a low environmental impact. Not only that, at ‘Seafuture’ there will be a Start Up Area that promotes innovative ideas as an important engine of growth in the sector and allows companies to create bridges to accelerate the implementation of these projects.
‘Seafuture 2025’ is organized by Italian Blue Growth in collaboration with the Navy, the support of the General Secretariat of Defense, the support and patronage of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
The event is made possible thanks to the support of Fincantieri, Strategic Sponsor and other important sponsors such as: MBDA; ELT Group; Cabi Cattaneo; Intermarine; Dassault Systems; Laghezza.
Green & Blue Sponsor: The Eu Blue Economy Observatory; Institute of Marine Engineering; Interreg Euro Med Project; Interreg Claster Project; Blubarge; Eosc Blue-cluod; Blue Ports; Shore Link.
Technical sponsors: Dell Technologies, Ceia, I-Sped, Vannucci Piante.
Seafuture is organized in collaboration with: AIAD – Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence and Security; Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea – Ports of La Spezia and Marina di Carrara; Chamber of Commerce – Riviere di Liguria Imperia La Spezia, Savona; DLTM – Ligurian District of Marine Technologies, E.I.E.A.D – European Institute for EurAsian Dialogue; Liguria/Liguria International Region – Filse Group and Agency in Liguria; Italian trade agency/ICE; Magellan Circle.
Institutional partner: Confindustria La Spezia
Under the Patronage of: European Commission; European Parliament, MIT – Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport; Ministry of the Interior; Liguria Region; City of Sarzana; City of La Spezia; Municipality of Portovenere; Municipality of Lerici; CNA Nautica; Confartigianato.
Media Partners: Asian Defence Journal; the Chanakya aerospace; Defensa.com; Naval News; Raids Italia; Arab Defence Journal; Mundomar.
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