Fincantieri's CEO, Pierroberto Folgiero. Photo: Fincantieri
Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company, has inaugurated a new Innovation Antenna at the Mind the Bridge Innovation Centre in San Francisco. The launch event, attended by Italy’s Under Secretary of State for Defence, Matteo Perego di Cremnago, underscores Fincantieri’s commitment to advancing “dual-use” technologies that serve both civilian and defence purposes. The San Francisco location positions the company within a major technology hub, allowing it to engage in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, automation, and robotics.
To support this initiative, Fincantieri collaborated with Mind the Bridge and Crunchbase on a report titled “Dual-use technologies: going beyond the dual-use divide.” The study, surveying over 60,000 start-ups across NATO and allied nations, found that approximately 25% (15,260) of these companies are engaged in dual-use technology development. Of these, 170 are already operating in the defence sector, and 715 have shifted from civilian-only to defence-focused projects. The report highlights that only 5% of dual-use startups actively serve both sectors, though examples such as Israel, with a civilian-to-military application rate above 60%, suggest further potential for similar conversions globally.
Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s CEO, remarked, “The defence industry is deeply rooted in our DNA. Fincantieri is one of the few remaining innovation hubs in heavy industry in Italy. We have maintained our global leadership thanks to our ability to integrate complex technologies, from cruise ships to military units.”
“Through the development of Dual-Use technologies, we can create solutions that address both civilian and military challenges. This allows us to anticipate the needs of both sectors and evolve our offerings. In today’s uncertain geopolitical landscape, the ability to navigate between these two worlds becomes a strategic asset for both industry and the country,” he added.
Mind the Bridge Chairman Alberto Onetti commented, “Since 2021, we have witnessed a radical shift in how venture capital approaches Defense Tech startups. While investments were limited in the past, today we are seeing a real boom, with billions of dollars being mobilized every year, driven by programs such as those from NATO and leading investors like Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst and Y Combinator.”
The establishment of Fincantieri’s Innovation Antenna reflects its broader Open Innovation strategy, which seeks to foster collaboration between civilian and military sectors. The initiative aligns with goals to accelerate dual-use solutions and support digital and energy transitions across global industry.
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