Strategic Industrial Alliance Announced.
Humanoid Robots (Representational image).
Fincantieri, a global leader in high-complexity shipbuilding, has announced a new industrial partnership with Generative Bionics, an Italian company specializing in autonomous humanoid robots. The collaboration aims to develop a humanoid robot designed to work alongside humans in Fincantieri’s shipyards, marking a significant step in the Group’s innovation and robotics strategy.
The initiative is intended to enhance operational excellence and reinforce the technological leadership of European shipbuilding, while addressing the increasing complexity of industrial production.
Focus on Welding and Operational Efficiency
The first phase of the partnership will center on the development of a humanoid robot to support specific welding activities in naval construction. The robot will be equipped with artificial intelligence and advanced capabilities in manipulation, perception, and vision. These features will enable it to monitor welding seams with precision and operate effectively in complex shipyard environments.
Optimized locomotion will allow the humanoid to navigate challenging industrial settings. Particular emphasis will be placed on safety, ensuring that the robot can work directly alongside human operators in full compliance with existing regulations and without restricting work areas.
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Four-Year Development Plan with Early Testing
The collaboration is structured as a four-year program focused on rapidly introducing operational solutions. Initial on-site tests are scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The partners aim to deliver operational functionality within the first two years, followed by further refinement, expanded capabilities, and industrial certification.
Development and experimentation will take place at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard, which will serve as a testing and validation hub for the technology. The site will function as a reference laboratory for industrial certification and integration of advanced robotics.
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Addressing Labor Challenges Through Physical AI
The project aligns with Fincantieri’s broader strategy in advanced robotics and Physical AI, key pillars of the Group’s new Industrial Plan. As shipbuilding faces rising production complexity and a shortage of specialized labor, robotics solutions are seen as essential to maintaining continuity and supporting workers in repetitive, heavy-duty, or ergonomically challenging tasks.
For Generative Bionics, the initiative represents one of the first structured industrial validation pathways for its humanoid platform within a high-complexity manufacturing environment.
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Strengthening European Technological Sovereignty
Beyond operational improvements, the partnership carries strategic importance for European technological sovereignty. By leveraging advanced research and industrial expertise developed within Europe, the project contributes to strengthening the region’s industrial autonomy and competitiveness.
The initiative complements other robotics validation programs already underway within the Fincantieri Group, expanding the range of processes that can be performed using advanced automation technologies.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, described advanced robotics and artificial intelligence as “a strategic lever for the evolution of shipbuilding and for the competitiveness of the European industrial system.” He emphasized that the collaboration with Generative Bionics supports the company’s transformation path, enhances workforce capabilities, and addresses challenges linked to increasing production complexity and skilled labor availability. He also highlighted the central role of the Sestri Ponente yard as an industrial laboratory integrating technology, safety, and skills development.
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Daniele Pucci, CEO and Co-Founder of Generative Bionics, said the partnership marks a significant step in the company’s industrialization journey. He noted that shipyards are a strategic component of global manufacturing and that Fincantieri was chosen to demonstrate how Physical AI solutions can deliver reliable and safe systems. According to Pucci, the project will help develop humanoid robots designed to work alongside humans, supporting sustainable, high-intensity, and specialized industrial operations over time.
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