Zenita Group sets its sights on Salerno: an AI Lab and new talent by 2027
Revenue of 531 million and rising margins: a targeted focus on proprietary products for the group formed following the rebranding of Maticmind
Zenita Group’s latest venture is set to begin in Salerno. The group has chosen this city in Campania to build its Innovation Centre: a hub dedicated to artificial intelligence, research and development, and the creation of proprietary products.
The project aims to recruit 30 talented young people by 2027 and a further 30 by 2028, whilst gradually centralising in Salerno the activities currently spread across several sites: from the AI Lab to the software factory, right through to technological experimentation initiatives and funded projects.
This move comes at a time of significant growth for the group, which was formed following the rebranding of Maticmind and operates in the fields of digital infrastructure engineering, cyber security, defence, intelligence and platforms for the public sector. Lorenzo Forina, the group’s CEO, summarises to Il Sole 24 Ore “at least three key projects that are setting us apart at this stage: our role as lead partner in the SGM agreement for general services for the public administration, in a joint venture with TIM; the record figure of 1.5 million candidates for public sector recruitment competitions in 2025, which we handled via our platform, managed without any appeals; and the fact that we are the only Italian company involved in the technological development of the largest wind farm in the North Sea.”
The year 2025 closed with consolidated revenue of €531.4 million, up 13.4% on the previous year. EBITDA rose to €55.5 million (+29.2%), pushing the margin from 9.2% to 10.4%, whilst adjusted EBITDA reached €85.7 million (+29.1%), with its share of revenue rising to 16.1% from 14.2% in 2024. The net loss remains at €41.8 million, partly due to non-recurring items and integration costs. “Our forecast is to achieve a positive net profit in the 2027 financial year,” Forina points out. In the meantime, the group has strengthened its financial structure with a €375 million bond issue. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year stood at almost 92 million. “I find it hard to envisage such growth – in terms of revenue and EBITDA – on the market in 2025. We are also pleased to have grown our workforce: we now number around 1,500, 200 of whom are based abroad.”
The decision to choose Salerno fits within this strategy. “We chose it because we believe in the value of the skills this region has to offer and in the quality of its university system. And for us, Salerno is also a hub for involving more and more NEETs in programmes to help them enter the workforce,” says Forina.
