Discuss the state of implementation and future prospects of the PNS, analyzing the role that the Hub can play in the field of technological innovation. This is the objective of the conference “The contribution of the PNS in the pursuit of technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness” organized today by National Underwater Dimension Polo at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies in Rome.
The PNS was inaugurated last December in La Spezia at the Naval Support and Experimentation Centre, to promote the technological sovereignty and competitiveness of the country system in the underwater sector, aggregating and stimulating the skills of national excellence. The publication of the first four technical-scientific research calls, which took place in recent months, was the first formal act with which the Polo opened up to the world of research, large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises to develop studies and new technologies . In particular, the first four calls concern: energy optimization, the creation of innovative software for the identification of underwater objects, communication networks and interaction systems between autonomous vehicles and cooperating platforms.
In the first part of the event, after the initial greetings from the admiral sq. Giacinto Ottaviani, president of the CASD, and the introduction of the admin. sq. Enrico Credendino, chief of staff of the Navy and president of the inter-ministerial coordination council of the PNS, the presentation of the report on the PNS by the admin was held. insp. Cristiano Nervi, director of the Polo's operational structure, and the speech of Sen. Nello Musumeci, minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies.
Following this, in the panel "the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach to guarantee the strategic sustainability of the National Underwater Hub", moderated by Carlo Festucci, general secretary of AIAD, the following spoke: Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri CEO, Lorenzo Mariani, co-general director of Leonardo, Luca Andreoli, CEO Difesa Servizi SpA, and the admin. sq. Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, president of the strategic management committee of the PNS. At the end of the event, the Hon. Matteo Perego of Cremnago, Undersecretary of State for Defence.
“When a few months ago we inaugurated the National Diving Center in La Spezia we knew that inter-ministerial and inter-institutional commitment was and would be needed because diving is a dimension in which different ministries contribute, each for their own skills.
We have decided that it is necessary to soon pass a framework law aimed at all those who intend to operate in the underwater dimension. The framework law that I will bring to the Council of Ministers in a few weeks will be the first step towards accreditation as the first European country to have given a regulatory context to this dimension.
This is accompanied by the commitment of our industries on a technological level to equip this space with all the necessary tools" said the sen. Nello Musumeci, minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies.
“The maritime domain in general and the underwater dimension in particular are becoming increasingly relevant in the global geopolitical context since a large part of the activities and functions we use on a daily basis depend on what happens beneath the surface of the water. In fact, the sea is not only an essential resource for human civilization, a climate regulator and custodian of important food reserves, but the seabed is also precious in minerals and rare earths, fundamental elements for the development and maintenance of a technological sovereignty that is now essential in the current era.
We have a great opportunity before us to project ourselves on an international level and take on a leading role in the sector, but to exploit it it is necessary to understand the importance of the underwater dimension at all levels and work together as a system" said the Hon. Matteo Perego of Cremnago, Undersecretary of State for Defence.
“It is essential to implement a concerted effort to promote cooperation between public and private structures, with Defense as the central hub. Only through initiatives that encourage synergy and sharing, such as the National Diving Center with the sector excellence present in our production fabric and in the Defense sector, can we aspire to maintain a competitive advantage in a sector that will see, in the coming years, a strong growth and competitiveness" concluded Perego from Cremnago.
“With the National Underwater Dimension Polo we have undertaken an ambitious and innovative path: in a few months we were able to start the first concrete projects. Now is the time to invest substantial resources and direct them on the technological trajectories defined within the strategic governance of the PNS.
We have enormous potential in terms of experience, know-how and Italian passion: we must be timely and concrete in capitalizing on it, through investments" declared the admin. sq. Enrico Credendino, Chief of Staff of the Navy and President of the PNS Interministerial Coordination Council.
“We all agree that the PNS is a strategic hub but to be truly competitive it must be able to express its management and technological capabilities to the maximum. We therefore need timely financing, economic investments and coherent tenders for cutting-edge technologies. We also believe it is necessary that the mass of data arriving from sensors and submarine cables can flow into an information collection center that acts as an analysis and control center for everything that happens in the Mediterranean, useful for the whole of Europe" said Carlo Festucci, AIAD general secretary
“A dual approach in defense will become increasingly central and will be an integral part of all technologies that rely on the digital transition. It is important to convey to public opinion that what is achieved has repercussions on the country also on a civil level. Furthermore, as far as exports are concerned, the market is vast and spaces will be created in the diving sector which are not yet covered from an industrial point of view" declared Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri.
“Advanced digital technologies that are rapidly spreading in the world of security represent a unique tool to address the challenges and potential risks of the underwater environment, the growing importance of which has implications in military, economic and environmental contexts. Leonardo with his multi-domain skills can contribute to generating, in close relationship with government institutions, important benefits both in the civil and defense and security fields. All this by involving SMEs and expanding the pool of STEM skills necessary for the creation of an increasingly competitive national ecosystem" the statement by Lorenzo Mariani, co-director general of Leonardo.
“The PNS constitutes a reality in which synergies between companies and the world of defense can be strengthened. Strengthening the capacity to operate in a new and dynamic context such as the underwater one is only possible through joint efforts, a dimension in which public and private resources can find a meeting point" declared Luca Andreoli, CEO Difesa Servizi SpA.
