Italy and Belgium form alliance in underwater technology sector

Italy and Belgium have launched a new industrial alliance focused on the underwater technology sector. During the “Italy–Belgium Industrial Day 2026” held in Ostend, companies, technology centers, and institutional representatives met to foster cooperation in subsea robotics, sensor technology, and offshore infrastructure maintenance.

The underwater sector represents a significant economic driver for both nations. In Italy, the industry generates a turnover of 30.5 billion euros, contributes 7.3 billion euros in added value, and employs over 63,000 specialized workers. Belgium’s blue economy produces approximately 15.4 billion euros in annual added value, involving more than 176,000 workers and an estimated total turnover exceeding 48 billion euros.

The partnership aims to move beyond dialogue toward concrete projects, including technological joint ventures and the integration of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into European marine defense and dual-use technology supply chains. This collaboration is supported by Italian Law n. 9/2026, which facilitates SME entry into the European subsea defense sector.