Italian attack on “blue technologies” from Calabria, Sicily, Molise and Tuscany – Corriere.it

This was Italy’s first year at Oceanology International., the largest world event dedicated to “blue technologies” – that is, those related to the conservation of the oceans and seas – which took place in London in the middle of this month: ten ambassadors from Made in Italy were able to present their projects to the audience which featured eight thousand participants and over five hundred companies in the marine science, renewable energy and aquaculture sectors. It is no coincidence that such performances take place in London: The UK took first place on MIT’s Blue Technology Barometer, a ranking of 66 countries along oceans and coasts that measures their commitment to maritime sustainability.,

The index is based on four parameters: the marine environment, marine activities, technological innovation and the politico-regulatory framework. And Britain has taken the lead in its technological ecosystem and its leadership in offshore renewable energy plants, which include the world’s largest marine wind farm off the coast of Scotland. On the other hand London invests heavily in research and development in the maritime sector and in technologies for sustainability in general, as evidenced by the £12 billion allocation to the Green Industrial Strategy. as well as the Net Zero Strategy, which is expected to unlock funding of up to ninety billion pounds by 2030.

The race to reduce greenhouse gases

Notably, last year Great Britain launched a competition for the design and development of technologies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the marine sector: 55 winning projects, representing a total investment of forty million euros, have now been completed. have been Whereas this year the UK Hydrographic Office has launched a marine innovation program that will give startups the opportunity to develop solutions based on geospatial technologies, to identify new areas for the production of tidal and wind power.

four thousand billion

it’s just An ecosystem that constitutes a very interesting outlet for Italian companies, Significant collaborations already exist: Eni, for example, partners Red Rock Power to build wind turbines off the Scottish coast. And more generally, the exchanges between the two countries in this region are recovering, registering +5.9 percent in 2021 of our capital goods exports over the previous year. This is a very rich cake: it is estimated that by 2030 the blue economy will cost the world about four trillion euros., It is all that the economy is associated with the oceans, seas and coasts: not only that Fishing, shipbuilding, transportation and tourism, but also marine energy or even biotechnology that use marine organisms for applications ranging from health to cosmetics., And in this context, “blue technologies” come into play, which could help mitigate the effects of climate change or restore the health of marine ecosystems.

Archeology and “electric” ocean currents

Italy must hold: It was only ranked 21st in the above Blue Technology barometer, also surpassed by Poland., But this is where the 10 companies that landed in London at Oceanology International begin the challenge. Associated with the University of Calabria was 3D research, which brings together culture and technological innovation by providing sustainable solutions for the protection of underwater historical heritage (for example, with products designed for divers that can be used underwater). to explore archaeological sites); As does the Sicilian Atlantis, those from port services, such as anchors with a low environmental impact, have also expanded the field of submarine archaeology. Instead SeaPower, a consortium of the University of Naples, has patented a system for producing energy from ocean currents., optimization of tidal movements. Similar work is being done by WaveEnergy, a branch of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, which has designed plants for the conversion of wave power into electrical energy. Whereas Element Works, in collaboration with Enel, has installed in Marina di Pisa, the first device in Italy capable of generating electricity from waves. And in the Adriatic it has provided intelligent sowing for growing seafood.

ships and drones

they also work in this field Apulian of Fisheries, which uses artificial intelligence for its digital platform to manage and monitor aquaculture, Then There was also a Geo Bio team from Sicily in London, which provides offshore services to oil and gas companies, renewable marine energy, telecommunications and the maritime sector., And speaking of boats, The Gidotti ships of Termoli (Cambobaso Province) established ships specially designed for inspection of oil pipelines and submarine cables., as well as for geophysical and environmental monitoring and eventual recovery of polluting materials from water. Specializing in drones is Top View from Caserta, which designs them specifically for search and rescue operations at sea. And the Italian patrol in London also had a public research body such as the National Institute of Oceanography, which puts its infrastructure in service of the fight against climate change. In short, a miscellaneous piece of information to get our country back with a blue economy.