FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO 3D PRINTING, FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO DECARBONISATION: INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES SHARE IDEAS ON THE BLUE PAVILION TERRACE STAGE
Genoa, 3 October 2026 – Eleven startups, one goal: to transform the boating industry and overcome present and future challenges through entrepreneurial insight, innovation and technology. These eleven companies took centre stage on the Blue Pavilion Terrace at the “Yachting Industry’s Innovative Startu-ps and SMEs” event, organised by Confindustria Nautica – Italian Marine Industry Association in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency during the 66th Genoa International Boat Show.
The eleven startups featured at the 2026 edition are AI Cure, CarveLab, I-TES, System Technology Innovations, Y Digital, Zefmar, NeoEast, Volta Structural Energy, 4T4 Technology, Limenet and Velto. These businesses are driving innovation and are often led by young teams. The event therefore focused on new approaches to energy efficiency, digitalisation, materials, production processes, safety, environmental sustainability and services.
From research to entrepreneurial vision, the focus was firmly on the future. The Blue Pavilion Terrace provided more than an exhibition showcase: it brought emerging innovation and industry together to support the growth of new businesses and create value across the supply chain in the medium and long term. Investing in start-ups strengthens the ability of the entire boating supply chain to innovate, compete and respond to technological, environmental and production changes with new tools. For several years, Confindustria Nautica has therefore actively supported this ecosystem, offering new businesses opportunities to raise their profile, exchange ideas and engage with the market.
From ideas to the future of boating
The projects range from artificial intelligence for energy management in ports and on boats to 3D printing and robotics for components and refits, as well as systems that store and recover energy while reducing consumption and space requirements. Digitalisation and safety also feature prominently, with digital twins that can predict failures, cybersecurity solutions and tools to monitor microplastics and boating infrastructure. Technologies for decarbonisation and sustainability range from structural batteries integrated into hulls to CO₂ removal, alongside port logistics solutions and new digital tools for services and sales in the boating industry.
Alessandro Gianneschi, Vice President of Confindustria Nautica, opened the event, highlighting the work undertaken with the Italian Trade Agency “to enable these companies to present their ideas and concepts at the Genoa International Boat Show”. Through these initiatives, “we support businesses so that they can become tomorrow’s industry leaders. The projects cover digitalisation and artificial intelligence, with a focus on energy consumption and products. These are all areas that our companies and our industry need. Fair winds, and every success with your work”.
Among the startups featured is AI Cure, which brings artificial intelligence to energy management in ports, marinas and on boats. Its AI Digital Twin simulates energy flows, predicts anomalies and failures, and automates the management of systems, with the aim of reducing waste, emissions and costs. CarveLab focuses on the design and production of hulls and boating components, eliminating the need for dedicated moulds. Its CarveHUB Marine robotic platform combines 3D printing, milling and 3D scanning to produce spare parts and customised components and carry out refits.
I-TES addresses energy efficiency with thermal storage systems based on phase-change materials. The technology recovers heat generated by engines while underway and reuses it while moored, reducing consumption and emissions. System Technology Innovations focuses on the digitalisation of boats and coastal infrastructure, integrating electronics, software, IoT, connectivity and cybersecurity. Its solutions include a modular control unit for controlling and monitoring onboard devices.
Y Digital combines sensors, operational data and an Operational Digital Twin to monitor boats and infrastructure and identify anomalies and signs of deterioration at an early stage. The technology is designed to reduce unplanned downtime, improve safety and extend asset life. Zefmar addresses the problem of snagged anchors with Abissa, a 3D-printed anchor made from 316 stainless steel. The system makes it easier to retrieve the anchor from rocky seabeds, while its folding design simplifies stowage on board.
NEOEAST focuses on environmental sustainability and has developed MMPS, a system for separating and monitoring microplastics in cooling circuits, vessel discharges and the waters of ports and marinas. The startup has also created WAVEASY, a platform dedicated to digitalising boating services. Volta Structural Energy is working on boat electrification with a Structural Battery that integrates energy storage directly into the structure, without a separate battery pack. The aim is to increase the energy available while limiting weight and space requirements.
Extending from boating into logistics, 4T4 Technology applies automation and operational intelligence to container management. Its platform coordinates trucks and containers in real time and automates operational decisions, aiming to reduce waiting times and improve productivity. Limenet addresses the challenge of decarbonising lime production and removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Its technology combines an electric calciner powered by renewable energy with a process that converts CO₂ into calcium bicarbonates for storage in the sea. Completing the selection is Velto, which turns WhatsApp into a sales channel for businesses, allowing them to create campaigns, automate messaging and segment contacts. In the boating industry, the platform can be used by shipyards, brokers, charter companies and marinas to maintain customer relationships and promote models, services and maintenance activities.
Innovation and sustainability were also at the heart of the CIIRCLE Hackathon, hosted today at the 66th Genoa International Boat Show. The event focuses on circular and digital innovation for the economy of the sea and forms part of the cross-border CIIRCLE project.
Over the course of two days, teams of students, programmers, designers and maritime industry experts will work together to develop practical solutions and sustainable business models. The aim is to accelerate the boating industry’s green transition through advanced digital technologies and zero-waste practices.
The final projects will be assessed by a panel of experts, and the best will receive support to turn their ideas into viable business ventures through direct links with blue economy companies.
From innovation to sailing, the day’s programme continued at the Eberhard & Co. Theatre with the presentation of the 2027 edition of Livorno International Sailing Week, attended by representatives of the Italian Naval Academy, Livorno Municipality, the Italian Sailing Federation and local sailing clubs. Following the success of the 2026 edition, the event continues to grow, with a programme that further strengthens local involvement, youth participation and inclusivity.
Among the main developments is the return of the Optimist class, with an event counting towards the national ranking, made possible through the involvement of the Italian Sailing Federation and hosted at the Italian Naval Academy, with a logistics base at San Leopoldo harbour. The event’s signature regattas have also been confirmed, from the Naval Academies Regatta, which brings together officer cadets from navies around the world, to the Italian Naval Academy Regatta – RAN630, organised by Yacht Club Livorno. The latter will celebrate its tenth edition in 2027, starting on 25 April on the Livorno–Mortoriotto–Capri–Livorno course.
Inclusivity will also receive particular attention, with Para Sailing classes and a revamped Sailing Village that is increasingly accessible to local residents, families, schools and visitors. International Sailing Week thus continues to bring together sport, maritime tradition, local engagement and an international outlook.
International sailing also took centre stage with the return of “Incontri in Blu” (Talks in Blue), the series now in its seventh edition. This year it moved from the Galata Maritime Museum to the Genoa International Boat Show for a special event dedicated to the America’s Cup, ahead of the 38th edition, which will take place in Naples in the summer of 2027.
The discussion, moderated by journalist Fabio Pozzo, featured Riccardo Bonadeo, former Vice President of the Azzurra syndicate and a key figure in Italy’s first Cup challenge, and Giulio Bertelli, Vice President of Luna Rossa. It traced the history of Italian America’s Cup campaigns, from Azzurra’s pioneering efforts to Luna Rossa’s challenges, exploring the evolution of Italy’s participation in the competition and the contributions of sailors, engineers, designers and technical specialists.
From sailing to culture, the third day of the 66th Genoa International Boat Show concluded with the “Meet the Author” series, featuring Paolo Mieli presenting his new book “Il Grande Inganno” (The Great Deception) in conversation with Antonio Macaluso, a columnist for Corriere della Sera.
The book spans different eras and events, from Hercules to NATO, from Alexander the Great to Marco Polo, and from Italy’s Risorgimento to the fall of fascism, as Mieli challenges established interpretations and false certainties about history. Connecting the past with current affairs, the book encourages readers to recognise deception and self-deception, offering new tools for a more informed understanding of today’s contradictions and conflicts.
