The Italian underwater economy generates a turnover of 3,5 billion: the first report on its underwater dimension has been presented.

The Italian underwater economy generates €3,5 billion: this is the primary estimate of the 1st National Report on the Italian Underwater Dimension, which for the first time offers a comprehensive snapshot of a strategic production ecosystem for our country. Produced by the National Observatory on the Marine Economy (OsserMare di Informare), a Special Agency of the Frosinone-Latina Chamber of Commerce, with scientific input from the G. Tagliacarne Study Center of the Chambers of Commerce, in collaboration with the PNS (National Center for Underwater Dimension), Unioncamere, and Assonautica, the Report was presented at an event promoted by Senator Simona Petrucci, President of the Parliamentary Intergroup for the Marine Economy. The event, part of the Blue Forum 2026, follows the presentation of the 14th National Report on the Marine Economy, which took place at Palazzo Piacentini in Rome on July 8th, in the presence of Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy. 

The process that led to the creation of the document, which represents the first identification of the economic aspects of the Italian underwater economy, stems from the memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 between Unioncamere, Assonautica Italiana, and the National Underwater Dimension Center. This agreement laid the foundation for the establishment of the National Underwater Observatory, with the aim of providing the country with a permanent tool for analyzing, monitoring, and understanding a strategic industrial ecosystem for Italy. 

Starting from a pool of approximately 1.700 companies potentially associated with the underwater sector, identified through an initial product reclassification and a massive search supported by artificial intelligence tools, the automatic and manual verification work allowed us to identify 189 Italian companies actually operating in the underwater economy. These companies employ a total of 63.458 people, equal to 0,34% of national employment, generate €30,5 billion in turnover, equal to 0,72% of the national total, and produce €7,3 billion in added value, equivalent to 0,68% of the Italian economy. 

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Specifically, the value of underwater products and systems has increased from €1,1 billion to €3,5 billion in less than ten years, representing a 216% increase. The analysis was based on a review of the main areas of underwater activity and technologies and currently focused on the following development areas: Defense and security (underwater surveillance, warfare devices and countermeasures, protection of strategic cables and pipelines, autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles); Offshore energy (installation, monitoring, and maintenance of oil and gas platforms, offshore wind farms); Telecommunications and critical infrastructure (laying, maintenance, and monitoring of submarine cables); Scientific and environmental research (oceanography, climate monitoring, marine biodiversity, seabed mapping); Deep sea mining (extraction of rare earths, polymetallic nodules). 

The Report also highlights the growing role of strategic technologies and innovation. The surveyed companies hold a total of 12.659 patents, 2.840 of which are attributable to Step technologies, including Deep Tech and Net-Zero Technologies, with Lombardy and Lazio accounting for over 91% of the entire strategic patent portfolio. In terms of human capital, the surveyed companies employ 25.403 graduates, equal to 40% of total employees, almost double the national manufacturing average. 

The presentation, which opened with a greeting from the President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, and concluded with the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, Nello Musumeci, included Senator Simona Petrucci, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, President of Assonautica Italiana, Giovanni Acampora, President of Unioncamere, Andrea Prete, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy and President of the Strategic Management Committee of the National Navy, Admiral Fabio Gregori, Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, with a message, Roberta Pinotti, President of the National Diving Center Foundation, and Contr. (CP) Edoardo Balestra, Head of the Administration and Logistics Department, General Command of the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard. The Report was presented by: Antonello Testa, President of Informare and Coordinator of OsserMare – National Observatory on the Economy of the Sea, Contr. Giulio Cappelletti, director of the National Underwater Division Operations Unit; Gaetano Fausto Esposito, director of the Tagliacarne Study Center; and Paolo Cortese, of the Tagliacarne Study Center. Representatives from industry, research, and universities working in the sector were also present. 

(Adnkronos)