Italy confirms its position as the world’s leading exporter of shipbuilding. With this in mind, the SATEC 2026 Convention, an annual event organized by Confindustria Nautica, was held in Puglia, in Borgo Egnazia. The event brings together representatives of institutions, entrepreneurs, economists, analysts, and stakeholders in the industry to analyze the profound changes reshaping the international competitive landscape and their impact on the Italian nautical industry: one of the most dynamic and internationalized expressions of Made in Italy. Geopolitics, global trade, AI, the transformation of production chains, industrial competitiveness and new export markets. These themes were at the heart of the SATEC 2026 Convention’s public session, organised by Confindustria Nautica, the Italian Marine Industry Association, and entitled “Global Winds and Digital Currents: the future of the yachting sector. Industry scenarios and strategies to navigate an era of data and global tensions”. The conference benefitted from the scientific contribution of The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA Group). SATEC 2026 was a significant event this year, given that the nautical sector set a new record in 2024: the turnover of the Italian recreational boating industry reached an all-time high of 8.60 billion euros (+3.2%).
Giorgia Meloni’s greeting
The proceedings kicked off with a dedicated video message from Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who stated: “The yachting industry is one of the most advanced expressions of the Made in Italy brand, a sector in which Italian quality measures up to global competition and manufacturing excellence translates into reputational strength. The Government has taken this awareness as its starting point to view the sea from a more systemic perspective, a vision that has shaped the recent law dedicated to the enhancement of the sea as a key resource, which has just been approved by Parliament and marks the beginning of a new era in which the sea is finally considered one of the nation’s greatest assets in terms of potential for development. The yachting sector is one of the fundamental components of this asset, a sector that the Government intends to support through regulatory simplification, accompany through innovation and internationalisation, and strengthen through professional training. The challenge that now lies before us is to effectively implement the regulatory framework we have already outlined, so that businesses and local areas can fully reap the benefits and so that one of the nation’s most innovative, dynamic and distinctive industrial sectors can be treasured and enhanced as it deserves to be.”
In his opening remarks, Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica thanked Prime Minister Meloni for recognising the value of the Italian yachting industry, a sector that currently operates in a landscape where industrial competition, international trade, technological innovation and economic policy are increasingly intertwined, and where the ability to interpret and anticipate change is a decisive factor when it comes to remaining competitive.
Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica.
AI is a competitive lever
Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency: “The Italian yachting industry represents a shining example of Made in Italy excellence worldwide, and the results achieved in recent years demonstrate the extraordinary ability of companies throughout the sector to compete on international markets. In a landscape characterised by geopolitical tensions, new trade barriers and growing global competition, the role of a national as a cohesive system is becoming increasingly important in terms of supporting internationalisation processes and fostering business growth. Today we have at our disposal tools, expertise and resources that can help companies access new markets and consolidate their presence abroad. At the same time, artificial intelligence and the digital transformation are profoundly changing the way business is conducted: they are not a future prospect, they are a competitive lever that is already crucial for innovating processes today, increasing productivity and maintaining the international leadership of Made in Italy manufacturing.”
Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency
The nautical sector is a strategic sector
Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport: “The expansion of the Italian yachting industry demonstrates just how important it is to foster an ongoing dialogue between institutions and businesses. Over the past years, we have worked to simplify the regulatory framework, promote the sector’s development and support its evolution with tools better suited to the needs of businesses and local areas. The challenge now is to continue along this path, investing in infrastructure, marinas and boatbuilding, to further strengthen Italy’s role as the Mediterranean’s natural hub for the yachting industry. The sector’s competitiveness also depends on the country’s ability to support those who invest, innovate and create value.”
Francesco Paolo Sisto, Deputy Minister for Justice: “Today, law, innovation and economic development are increasingly interconnected. Artificial intelligence is opening up new opportunities for the yachting sector, port facilities and maritime logistics, improving efficiency, safety and capacity for innovation. The role of institutions is to support this transformation by creating a regulatory framework that fosters growth, safeguards the security of digital infrastructure and supports investment in the skills needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The real challenge will be to combine innovation with responsibility, harnessing the potential of new technologies without losing control of the processes they generate.”
Ilaria Cavo, Vice President of the 10th Parliamentary Committee for Industry, Trade and Tourism: “The yachting sector can no longer be considered a niche market. It is a strategic component of the maritime economy and of the Made in Italy brand. The legislative process of recent years has marked a significant shift in the country’s approach, recognising the sector within a unified vision of maritime policies and introducing concrete tools to simplify regulations and support a competitive flag. Today, we must continue to work on the challenges that look to the future: professional training, innovation, artificial intelligence, energy and infrastructure development. It is on these factors that the Italian yachting industry’s ability to reinforce its leadership and create new opportunities for businesses and the next generations will depend.”
In a video message sent to the SATEC 2026 Convention, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani reiterated the strategic importance of the Italian yachting industry: “These results confirm the strength of a key sector within our manufacturing base. In 2025, Italian marine exports reached €4.5 billion, consolidating our global leadership. Yours is a strong and competitive sector, generating innovation, skilled employment and economic value, transforming creativity and technology into growth and international presence relevance This is why the sector is central to the ‘diplomacy of growth’ strategy that I have placed at the heart of the Foreign Ministry’s work. In a complex international context, we will continue to support the internationalisation of businesses, the opening of markets and the protection of Italian know-how. We will also continue to support major Italian boat shows and promotional activities in high-potential markets, from India to the Gulf, from Africa to Latin America, to accompany the international development of the Italian yachting industry.”
Analysis of geopolitical scenarios and the new industrial revolution
The first part of the Convention, moderated by journalist Andrea Bignami of Sky TG24 Economia, was dedicated to an analysis of the geopolitical and technological scenarios that are transforming the global economy. Andrew Spannaus, journalist and political analyst, explored the evolution of international competitiveness, characterised by the return of industrial policies, the redefinition of strategic supply chains and the growing intertwining of economy, technology and security. “The shift that has taken place in the global economy over the last decade is forcing the world to rethink objectives and rules in order to compete,” underlined Spannaus. “The deep link between economic security and national security is driving states to define geopolitical interests on which to base economic policies. The risks of this approach are obvious, especially for a Europe still held back by a conception of rules anchored to the globalised financial model. At this point, we need not only financial flexibility but above all mental flexibility, and a willingness to implement industrial policies that can remove the brakes on economies, such as that of Italy, which have all the elements needed to maintain and create wealth for their citizens.”
Andrew Spannaus (left) with Andrea Bignami of Sky TG24 Economia.
AI: a historic opportunity for Italy
From here, Corrado Panzeri, Head of InnoTech Hub & Partner at TEHA Group, addressed the topic of the new industrial revolution, stating: “Artificial intelligence represents a historic opportunity for Italy: our models estimate a potential of €336 billion in additional value added per year by 2040, the equivalent of the entire national manufacturing sector. In a country that will lose 3.7 million workers for demographic reasons, AI is not an option, it is a structural necessity. But technology alone is not enough: today there is a shortage of 4.5 million workers with advanced digital skills. The real bottleneck is not the machine: it is the creation of innovation and people’s skills. Meanwhile, American Big Tech firms will invest over $750 billion in 2026 alone: more than five times the European Union’s total ICT investment. Italian manufacturing has everything it needs to benefit from this industrial revolution, but the time to step up is now.”
Corrado Panzeri (left) with Andrea Bignami of Sky TG24 Economia. Strategies and scenarios in the era of global tensions and data
The second part of Day 2 of SATEC 2026 was dedicated to a roundtable moderated by journalist Stefania Pinna of Sky TG24, with the participation of Piero Formenti, Susanna Vitulano (Italia Yachts), Alessandro Plateroti (UCapital.com), Andrew Spannaus and Corrado Panzeri. During the debate, it emerged that to maintain its international leadership, the Italian yachting industry must navigate a period marked by significant geopolitical instability, new regulations, a digital transformation and shifts in consumer patterns.
The roundtable participants. From left, Stefania Pinna, Susanna Vitulano, Piero Formenti, Alessandro Plateroti, Andrew Spannaus, and Corrado Panzeri.
Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica, highlighted the strategic role of exports for the sector, noting that approximately 90% of domestic production is destined for foreign markets and that in 2025 exports of recreational craft reached a new all-time high, approaching €4.4 billion. He also highlighted the need to defend the international competitiveness of Italian businesses, support the dual technological and sustainable transition, and consolidate Italy’s leadership in the segments with the highest added value. “We have entered a phase in which economic, industrial and technological competition tends increasingly to overlap with geopolitical balances,” continued Formenti. “For an international sector like ours, this means being able to anticipate changes, strengthen the resilience of supply chains, invest in innovation and safeguard the very skills that will determine the competitiveness of our flag over the coming years. Our challenge is to navigate this evolution without losing sight of the factors that have made the Italian yachting industry a global benchmark: quality, expertise, supply chain integration and industrial culture. When you are a leader, you run not to catch up others, but to drive innovation and maintain your advantage.”
Susanna Vitulano, CFO of Italia Yachts, focused on the topics of skills, professional training and the ability to attract new talent – elements that are increasingly crucial for sustaining the sector’s competitiveness and keeping pace with its technological evolution: “The Italian yachting industry was born from the convergence of craftsmanship and the capacity for innovation. Today, that same combination must evolve through hybrid skills that bring together craftsmanship, technology, digital expertise, sustainability and artificial intelligence. Companies cannot tackle this transformation alone: we need investment in training, a closer relationship between schools, technical colleges, universities and production clusters, and a strong focus on the skills that will support the sector’s technological and energy transition. The future of our competitiveness will depend on our ability to attract talent and develop human capital throughout the yachting industry’s entire supply chain.”
Susanna Vitulano of Italia Yachts (right) with Stefania Pinna.
Alessandro Plateroti, Editorial Director of UCapital.com, analysed the economic and financial outlook for the yachting industry, focusing on the sector’s appeal to investors, the value of innovative technologies and the evolution of corporate valuation criteria.“In a time defined by trade wars, geopolitical instability and growing international competition to attract investment, the Italian yachting industry continues to stand out as one of the most attractive sectors bearing the Made in Italy brand. Not only because of the strength of its own brands and the leadership it has achieved in prime segments, but because it is undergoing a profound industrial and technological transformation,” stated Plateroti. Today, investors are increasingly looking at companies’ ability to innovate, integrate new technologies, develop skills, champion sustainability and build resilient supply chains. Artificial intelligence, new materials, the digitalisation of processes and the energy transition are redefining the value of companies operating across the yachting sector, which are becoming increasingly viewed as high-tech industrial entities. In this context, the ability to combine manufacturing tradition, innovation and strategic vision represents the key competitive factor for attracting capital, sustaining growth and consolidating the role of the Italian yachting industry in global markets.”
Alessandro Plateroti, Editorial Director of UCapital.com
Nautical expression of Made in Italy
The SATEC 2026 Convention confirmed the growing centrality of the yachting industry within the country’s development strategies and the sector’s role as a leading centre for manufacturing, innovation and internationalisation. From geopolitics to artificial intelligence, from infrastructure to training, from industrial policies to export competitiveness, the dialogue between institutions, businesses and analysts highlighted the need for a shared vision to support the growth of a sector that represents one of the most dynamic, innovative and internationalised expressions of Made in Italy excellence.
The Genoa International Boat Show celebrates its 66th anniversary.
See you in Genoa for the International Boat Show from 1-6 October.
The SATEC 2026 Convention was made possible by the support of Main Partners Alfa Romeo, BPER Banca and Eberhard & Co., alongside Confindustria Nautica, in promoting yachting industry excellence and the Genoa International Boat Show, scheduled to be held from 1 to 6 October.
Emilio Martinelli
