New agreement strengthens technological and commercial collaboration in a fast-growing strategic sector.
Leonardo’s Pierroberto Folgiero (L) with WSense’s Chiara Petrioli (R).
Fincantieri-WSense Partnership: Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri has announced the signing of a strategic agreement with WSense, an Italian deep-tech company specializing in underwater wireless communication, marking a new phase in the collaboration between the two groups. The agreement aims to strengthen Fincantieri’s capabilities in delivering cutting-edge systems for the underwater domain, a sector of growing importance for security, infrastructure protection, and environmental sustainability.
The partnership focuses on two key pillars: the co-development of advanced wireless technological solutions for underwater applications, and a commercial agreement for their deployment in environmental monitoring through Fincantieri Infrastructure.
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Advancing Wireless Solutions for Critical Infrastructure
At the core of the agreement is the integration of WSense’s wireless technologies into Fincantieri’s DEEP system, designed for the monitoring and protection of critical underwater infrastructure. By reducing reliance on traditional wiring, the solution addresses one of the main vulnerabilities of conventional monitoring systems.
The use of wireless underwater networks enhances the resilience of sensitive installations, offering a safer, more flexible, and easier-to-deploy solution. This technological shift allows operators to better protect strategic assets while improving operational continuity and reducing exposure to physical damage or tampering.
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Expanding Applications in Environmental and Civil Monitoring
Beyond defense and security applications, the agreement includes a commercial understanding for the use of WSense technologies in environmental monitoring and civil infrastructure. Through Fincantieri Infrastructure, these solutions will be applied to environmental observation and structural integrity monitoring in the civilian field.
This represents a significant product innovation, delivering measurable benefits in terms of effectiveness, safety, and efficiency for end users. The deployment of wireless underwater systems supports more accurate data collection and real-time monitoring, contributing to sustainable management of marine and coastal environments.
Building on an Established Industrial Synergy
The agreement builds on an already well-established relationship between Fincantieri and WSense. In April 2025, Fincantieri invested in WSense, reinforcing a partnership grounded in complementary expertise. Fincantieri brings its strength in integrating and orchestrating complex industrial solutions, while WSense contributes specialized know-how in underwater wireless networks and monitoring systems.
Through this collaboration, Fincantieri further consolidates its position as a leader in the underwater sector, confirming its role as an orchestrator of integrated solutions and a reference point for the development of advanced, frontier technologies.
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Fincantieri: Driving Underwater Technological Sovereignty
Commenting on the agreement, Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fincantieri, said the deal represents a concrete step forward in the Group’s underwater economy development strategy.
“This agreement strengthens our strategy in the underwater domain, where the ability to transform state-of-the-art national technologies into competitive solutions is decisive,” Folgiero said. “Our long-standing collaboration with WSense enables us to bring underwater wireless telecommunications into next-generation products, increasing the resilience, security, and sustainability of strategic critical infrastructure.”
He added that the partnership reinforces Fincantieri’s role as an orchestrator of complex technological ecosystems and as a reference industrial platform for underwater technological sovereignty, serving dual-use industries, environmental protection, and the broader national system.
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WSense: A Key Player in the Internet of Underwater Things
WSense Chief Executive Officer Chiara Petrioli welcomed the agreement, describing it as a milestone for the company’s growth and international positioning.
“This partnership establishes WSense as a leader of innovation in the underwater sector and allows us, together with an industrial excellence such as Fincantieri, to deploy state-of-the-art wireless systems for surveillance, protection, and sustainable management of underwater infrastructure,” Petrioli said.
She added that the collaboration will support the development of innovative services for the Blue Economy and help position Italy among the global leaders of the emerging Internet of Underwater Things, an increasingly strategic field at the heart of future digital infrastructure and global economic growth.
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Positioning Italy at the Forefront of Underwater Innovation
With this agreement, Fincantieri and WSense aim to accelerate the development and adoption of wireless underwater technologies, addressing both security and environmental challenges. The partnership underscores Italy’s ambition to play a leading role in underwater innovation, combining industrial scale with deep-tech expertise to shape the future of the underwater digital ecosystem.
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