Diving Centre Foundation launches a 7.5 million call for proposals for businesses
The scheme, which offers non-repayable grants and is funded by the Liguria Region, is aimed at SMEs based in Liguria or those planning to set up in the region
The go-ahead has been given for the ‘Underwater Liguria’ call for proposals, a €7.5 million funding scheme aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, promoted by the National Underwater Centre Foundation (PNS) and funded by the Liguria Region through ERDF funds. The scheme was presented in La Spezia, the area where the PNS is based (at its San Bartolomeo premises), of which the foundation – chaired by Roberta Pinotti, former Minister of Defence – is an integral part.
The centre, whose operational structure is headed by Rear Admiral Giulio Marino Cappelletti, aims to act as a hub for the development of an industrial ecosystem focused on the underwater sector, whilst the foundation is tasked with acting as an accelerator, drawing on resources and partnerships to consolidate Italia’s position amongst the leading nations in underwater technology.
The call for proposals, aimed at companies based in Liguria or those planning to open an office in the region, makes available, as mentioned, 7.5 million in ERDF funding, with non-repayable grants of up to 800,000 euros per project. It funds projects lasting up to 18 months, with the aim of bringing the technologies developed to the prototype stage. SMEs may participate either individually or as consortia comprising between three and six partners, with a majority of SMEs; large enterprises, in fact, are eligible only when forming a consortium with small businesses. The call for proposals is structured around five thematic areas (by way of example and not an exhaustive list), leaving businesses freedom to design their projects, provided they remain consistent with the scope of the underwater sector.
The five areas are: Networks, infrastructure and underwater situational awareness; Autonomous vehicles, drones, robotics and propulsion; Data processing, AI and classification; Blue economy, the marine environment and observation; Materials, underwater hardware and manufacturing processes. The online call-for-proposals platform will be accessible for registration and completing applications from 20 July. However, applications may only be officially submitted during the period from 1 to 15 September.
“The decision to allocate 7.5 million to the development of the underwater sector,” explained Pinotti, “represents an important strategic step towards supporting SMEs, start-ups and Ligurian organisations operating in the field of research, as part of a shared national strategy and a highly specialised cluster that currently comprises 20 large companies, 177 SMEs and numerous research centres and universities, making a total of 260 organisations. Italia possesses centres of excellence in both the civil and military sectors and must step up its efforts to consolidate its leadership in a sector that is increasingly crucial for innovation, security and the protection of critical infrastructure. The challenge is to attract public, European and private resources towards a shared vision that strengthens national and European technological autonomy.”
