By
Rebecca Gibson|
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and professional services company Accenture have launched Fincantieri Ingenium to accelerate digital transformation across the cruise, port infrastructure and defence sectors.
The new joint venture will be 70 per cent owned by Fincantieri NexTech – a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group – and 30 per cent by Accenture. It will enable Fincantieri to combine its expertise in the naval and defence sectors with Accenture’s experience with artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things, connectivity, digital platforms, cybersecurity and service design. The goal is to develop digital services and systems that will optimise data use and process transformation across the entire maritime value chain.
“This joint venture represents a strategic step forward in accelerating the digitalisation of the sector, leveraging AI and the most advanced technologies,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri. “Thanks to the synergy with Accenture, we will develop cutting-edge solutions that will make our ships and infrastructures increasingly connected, efficient and sustainable, consolidating Fincantieri’s role as a global leader in the sector.”
One of Fincantieri Ingenium’s first projects will be to develop Navis Sapiens, a digital ecosystem designed for use on both new and existing ships. The team will start by creating a portfolio of application services to optimise lifecycle management and operational efficiency for ships and onshore infrastructure. It will also develop a digital platform to enable these applications and AI-driven functionalities, with a focus on cybersecurity. Finally, it will build a marketplace for exchanging solutions – including those from third parties – to enable new business models across the maritime ecosystem.
The first ship featuring Navis Sapiens is set to start sailing by the end of 2025.
Fincantieri Ingenium also plans to develop a sea-to-shore interoperability solution to improve real-time connectivity and data exchange between ships and onshore ecosystems, such as ports and shipyards. This will optimise performance across the maritime and land-based value chain, helping to increase the competitiveness of Italian ports.
“We are excited about this joint venture with Fincantieri, which marks a significant step forward in maritime innovation and is a tangible example of collaboration between two organisations committed to transforming the market and creating new value,” said Teodoro Lio, CEO of Accenture Italy, and market unit lead for Italy, Central Europe and Greece. “With Fincantieri Ingenium, we are combining our respective strengths to shape new operating models that will transform maritime operations through innovative technologies.”