Fincantieri Bets €100m on AI and Robots to Revolutionise Shipbuilding
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri launches €100 million programme to integrate AI.
Fincantieri is staking nearly €100 million on a bold bet: turning its global shipyards into high-tech hubs where artificial intelligence and robots work alongside human expertise. The Italian shipbuilding giant has launched BOOST², an industrial innovation programme designed to embed next-generation automation, Physical AI and collaborative robotics into its production lines, with the goal of boosting productivity, safety and quality across its 13 facilities by 2030.
Over the past three years, BOOST² has engaged more than 450 employees across Italy, Romania and the United States, ensuring that new technologies are tailored to the practical needs of shipyard operations. The programme is a cornerstone of Fincantieri’s Industrial Plan, which allocates nearly €100 million to deploy these innovations at scale.
From Experimentation to Industrial Deployment: Fincantieri
The first phase of BOOST² focused on scouting and testing cutting-edge technologies. Now, the programme is shifting gears to roll out validated solutions across Fincantieri’s global footprint.
“The next frontier of industrial competitiveness is bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. “Through BOOST², we have laid the foundations for embedding new technologies into our processes and have already introduced the first solutions into our shipyards. Today, the challenge is to accelerate their industrial deployment and adoption at scale, turning innovation into greater productivity, safety, and quality.”
Fincantieri’s approach blends in-house expertise with external innovation. Through its Open Innovation strategy, the company collaborates with technology partners, including SMEs and start-ups, to develop and adapt solutions for the unique demands of shipbuilding. This ecosystem-driven model ensures that new tools are not only technologically advanced but also practical for day-to-day operations.
Physical AI and Robotics at the Core
At the heart of BOOST² is Physical AI, a technology that enables robotic systems to interact with their physical surroundings and adapt to changing conditions. This capability is particularly valuable in shipbuilding, where precision and adaptability are critical.
Collaborative robotics, or cobots, are another key pillar of the programme. These robots are designed to work alongside human workers, taking on repetitive or physically demanding tasks while enhancing safety.
The programme also integrates Digital Twin solutions, which create virtual replicas of shipyard assets and processes. These digital models allow engineers to simulate and optimise production workflows before implementing changes in the physical world. Additionally, BOOST² includes Smart Supply Chain systems to streamline logistics, additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping, and automated solutions for industrial equipment maintenance.
“The goal is to unlock the full potential of these technologies by progressively integrating them into operational workflows,” Folgiero added. “This will strengthen the connection between design, planning, and production, ensuring that our shipyards remain at the forefront of global shipbuilding.”
With the first solutions already deployed, Fincantieri is now focused on scaling these innovations across its network. As the maritime industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonise and improve efficiency, Fincantieri’s investment in AI and robotics could set a new standard for shipyard operations worldwide.
The next phase of BOOST² will see further validation and adoption of these technologies, with a focus on replicating successes across different manufacturing environments. For an industry built on tradition, Fincantieri’s push into the future signals a seismic shift, one where human ingenuity and machine intelligence work in tandem to redefine what’s possible in shipbuilding.
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