July 9, 2025 – The Fincantieri Foundation and Luiss Guido Carli University announce the launch of the “SUBCAP” project – SUBsea CAbles Protection. The project aims to promote multi-level, multidisciplinary legal research to identify a regulatory framework for the protection of critical underwater infrastructure.

The initiative, led by the “Law and Governance: Compliance, Security and Sustainability” Research Center under the direction of Professor Paola Severino, is part of Fincantieri’s broader efforts in maritime safety. It represents another step in the company’s ongoing commitment to strengthening dialogue and cooperation with academia, with the goal of developing innovative, sustainable, and advanced solutions. The agreement fosters excellence in research and education, creating synergies between academia and industry to support the development of cutting-edge knowledge and technologies.

The collaboration aims to help define a clear and consistent regulatory framework for the protection of underwater infrastructure, specifically one that explicitly sets out the limits and conditions for protection activities conducted in the underwater domain, especially in international contexts. The project therefore aims to conduct a comparative analysis of existing legal sources at the international, European, and national levels, and to develop operational solutions that can guide the use of advanced technologies—such as sensors, sonar, drones, and autonomous underwater vehicles—within a defined legal framework.

“Protecting the underwater domain is a key strategic challenge for security and development in the coming decades,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri. “With the SUBCAP research project, we aim to make a tangible contribution to defining a clear and shared regulatory framework that supports the evolution of technologies for protecting underwater infrastructure. The collaboration with Luiss Guido Carli University marks another step toward an integrated approach between industry and research, enabling us to expertly tackle the challenges of the future.”

Paolo Boccardelli, Rector of Luiss University, commented: “We are proud that our research model is aligning with the industrial expertise of the world’s leading shipbuilding complex in terms of diversification and innovation. This alliance, recognizing the growing geopolitical importance of the underwater economy, fits into the long-term strategy of a major national player like Fincantieri, capable of projecting the centrality and influence of the Italian economy far beyond its borders.”

Paola Severino, President of the Luiss School of Law, added: “To tackle the challenges of a constantly evolving world, we need to train a generation of legal professionals who can combine cross-cutting skills and abilities, and who are capable of addressing the regulatory issues raised by the new frontiers of innovation, such as the seabed economy.  The ambition is for both the company and the university to be at the forefront of change.”

The Fincantieri Foundation will play a leading role in coordinating activities related to the SUBCAP project, reaffirming its mission to promote knowledge and progress in sectors that are strategic for the country. It will actively support study and research programs with a particular focus on innovation, safety, and training.

The two-year project (2025–2027) will unfold in several phases, encompassing comparative regulatory analysis, empirical data collection, the formulation of regulatory recommendations, and the public dissemination of results. It will involve an interdisciplinary team of Luiss researchers, led by Professor Aldo Sandulli, with support from Fincantieri.