Trieste/Naples, October 29, 2025– Fincantieri, through its subsidiary IDS – Ingegneria dei Sistemi, and Next Geosolutions Europe S.p.A. – one of the leading international groups in the field of marine geosciences and offshore construction support services, and listed on Euronext Growth Milan – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic collaboration for the development of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and related technologies for civil applications in the Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy sectors.
The agreement was signed by Matteo Marchiori, CEO of IDS, and Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of Next Geosolutions.
Through this agreement, the two companies will combine their respective expertise to define the requirements and specifications for new USV platforms, optimized for open-sea operations and activities such as environmental monitoring, inspection, and offshore infrastructure integrity control.
The collaboration will specifically focus on the evolution of the SAND (Surface Advanced Naval Drone) project, developed by IDS, and on the development of a new USV model designed to meet the operational needs of major offshore market players. By integrating advanced technologies, automation systems, and efficient energy solutions, the two companies aim to enhance performance, endurance, and safety at sea—while simultaneously paving the way for concrete commercial developments. The new-generation vehicles will be directly employed by Next Geosolutions and subsequently introduced to the international market, underscoring the tangible industrial value of this partnership.
Dedicated working groups will be tasked with identifying the most effective solutions to make offshore operations more flexible and sustainable, combining IDS’s technological know-how with Next Geosolutions’ applied expertise in marine surveying and services. With this project, Fincantieri enters a strategic and rapidly evolving segment—the marine survey domain—closely linked to the development of subsea energy and telecommunications infrastructure, where autonomous technologies are a key enabler for improving operational efficiency and safety at sea.
The agreement will also strengthen the operational capabilities of USVs, which will be able to operate in synergy with traditional vessels through dedicated launch and recovery systems, thus increasing mission efficiency and productivity. The companies will also explore the joint development of a new USV, specifically designed to meet Next Geosolutions’ operational requirements. This new vehicle may include custom functionalities, modular systems, and mission-specific payloads for offshore survey activities.
Through this initiative, Fincantieri Group consolidates its position as a key player in the development of autonomous technologies and robotic systems aimed at enhancing safety, sustainability, and digitalization in maritime operations, reaffirming its commitment to innovation in the blue economy and energy transition sectors.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, stated: “This agreement further confirms the tangible progress we are making to systematize existing technologies across both the civil and defense sectors, with the goal of providing integrated solutions in the underwater domain. We aim to meet the needs of major offshore operators in the Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy industries. Thanks to the system-engineering capabilities of our subsidiary IDS, we are positioning ourselves as a hub for aggregation, integration, and acceleration of the competencies required for the development of the new underwater domain”.
“This collaboration with IDS marks another important step forward in our path toward innovation and the sustainability of offshore operations. We strongly believe that the integration of USV systems can deliver a real competitive advantage in terms of operational efficiency, cost reduction, and minimization of environmental impact”. – commented Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of NextGeo.
