Fincantieri Group: IDS and Next Geosolutions Sign a MoU for the Development of Autonomous Vehicles

Fincantieri, through its subsidiary IDS – Ingegneria dei Sistemi - and Next Geosolutions Europe S.p.A. 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 of new USV platforms, optimized for open-sea operations and for 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 the creation of a new USV model designed to meet the operational needs of major offshore market players. By integrating new technologies, automation systems, and efficient energy solutions, the two companies aim to enhance performance, autonomy, and safety in marine operations, while paving the way for already defined commercial developments: the new-generation vehicles will be directly employed by Next Geosolutions and later introduced to the international market, confirming the concrete industrial value of this partnership.

Dedicated working groups will be tasked with defining the most effective solutions to make offshore operations more flexible and sustainable, combining IDS’s technological expertise with Next Geosolutions’ applied knowledge in marine surveys and services. With this project, Fincantieri enters a strategic and rapidly evolving segment—the marine survey sector—closely linked to the development of subsea energy and telecommunications infrastructures, where autonomous technologies represent a key element in increasing 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 naval units through dedicated launch and recovery systems, thus increasing mission efficiency and productivity. The companies will also explore the possibility of jointly developing a new USV designed specifically for Next Geosolutions’ operational needs. This new vehicle may include custom functionalities, modular systems, and payloads tailored to offshore survey activities.

Through this initiative, the Fincantieri Group consolidates its position as a key player in the development of autonomous technologies and robotic systems for the safety, sustainability, and digitalization of maritime operations, reaffirming its commitment to innovation in the blue economy and the 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 in both civil and defense sectors, with the goal of providing integrated solutions in the underwater domain, to meet the needs of main offshore operators in the Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy sectors. 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.