Category: News

Fiera Nautica di Sardegna took part in the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025, one of the leading international events dedicated to recreational boating, strengthening Sardinia’s presence in a strategic context for the sector. The initiative, promoted in collaboration with Cipnes Gallura and Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, is part of the regional production chain promotion plan financed by the Assessorato alla Programmazione and the Assessorato all’Industria.

During the event, the President of Cipnes Gallura, Livio Fideli, presented data confirming the growth of the maritime economy in Sardinia, with an aggregated turnover of €644 million, placing the sector third among the island’s “industries”. Shipbuilding, including both production (€55 million) and refit (€68.2 million), represents a total value of €123 million. Particularly noteworthy is the export to France, which grew from less than €1 million in 2022 to over €12 million in 2024.

President Livio Fideli and Vice President Antonio Loriga (Cipnes Gallura) along with Angelo Colombo, Head of Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, visited the stands of Sardinian companies in attendance – including Novamarine, Maori, Sea Water, Sacs Tecnorib, Valdettaro, North Sardinia Sail, Sardinia Nautica Assistance, and Rete dei Porti della Sardegna – reinforcing institutional support for companies operating in international markets.

There were also numerous meetings with top executives from major global groups, such as Azimut-Benetti, Sanlorenzo, and Ferretti Group, during which discussions focused on industrial development, sustainability, and innovation prospects, including the biometanol project launched with Sanlorenzo, which will take center stage at the upcoming Salone Nautico di Genova.

Within the institutional stand, Fiera Nautica di Sardegna promoted editorial and audiovisual content, including the magazine “Amare” and an emotional video created by a young Sardinian content creator, highlighting the island’s contemporary and productive identity.

Participation in the Cannes Yachting Festival represents a strategic milestone in the growth path of Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, confirming its role as a key platform for the internationalization of Sardinia’s nautical sector and the strengthening of the broader maritime economy.

From September 9 to 14, 2025, Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, promoted by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna and Cipnes Gallura, will take part in the Cannes Yachting Festival, one of the most important international events dedicated to yachting.

This participation is part of the initiatives outlined in Legge Regionale 8 maggio 2025, n.12, which allocates strategic resources to promote Sardinian production chains in foreign markets, with the primary goal of internationalizing regional excellence. The nautical industry, with its added value in terms of innovation, craftsmanship, and tourism appeal, is among the sectors identified as strategic in this expansion process.

According to updated analysis of the financial statements of companies operating in the nautical sector in Sardinia, the industry includes 744 joint-stock companies with total revenues of around half a billion euros, along with over 700 partnerships generating revenues of €138 million. Altogether, the regional nautical supply chain – which includes manufacturing, refit, nautical tourism, and trade – generates an annual turnover of €644 million, making it the fifth-largest “company” in Sardinia in terms of economic impact.

Within the prestigious exhibition space of Vieux Port in Cannes, Fiera Nautica di Sardegna will have a dedicated stand – an important meeting point between international operators and the island’s production system. The aim is to showcase the potential of Sardinia’s nautical industry, highlighting not only the quality and reliability of its products but also the investment and collaboration opportunities available within the region. Some of the brands shaping the island’s nautical landscape will be represented, including: Maori Yacht, Novamarine, SACS Tecnorib, Sea Water, and Valdettaro Group.

Meetings with manufacturers and stakeholders from regional, national, and international backgrounds will take place, with the aim of building new synergies and strengthening the presence of Sardinian yachting in key European and global markets. Participation in the Cannes Yachting Festival represents a key milestone in the growth of Fiera Nautica di Sardegna and the regional nautical system as a whole.

Further updates will be available on the official website.

In the context of an island increasingly oriented towards innovation and the enhancement of its territorial excellence, the city of Olbia is establishing itself as a key hub for high-quality university education. Thanks to the synergistic collaboration between UniOlbia, the University of Sassari, and the University of Cagliari, the educational offering in the area is expanding with strategic degree programs designed to meet market demands and to highlight the region’s natural vocations.

Among the currently active degree programs, the Bachelor’s degree in Naval Engineering stands out as a course that directly addresses the challenges and opportunities of a sector that is central to Sardinia’s economy and its international positioning. With its port, shipyards, and strong presence of companies in the maritime and logistics sectors, Olbia provides the ideal environment to develop technical and professional skills that combine innovation, sustainability, and maritime tradition. This program trains naval engineers capable of working in the design, construction, and maintenance of vessels, as well as in the management of naval systems and port infrastructure. It offers highly qualified preparation aligned with the needs of the nautical sector, both locally and internationally.

Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, now approaching its Fifth Edition in Spring 2026, represents the perfect setting to showcase the synergy between education and industry. As a regional and national event of significance, it is not only a showcase for nautical excellence, but also a meeting point between the business world, institutions, and the new generation of professionals.

In addition to Naval Engineering, UniOlbia’s academic offer includes Bachelor’s degree programs in Nursing and Tourism Economics and Management, as well as Master’s degrees in Business Economics (Tourism Management) and Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism. This set of programs aims to build a true pipeline of knowledge and innovation, supporting the main development sectors of the region: healthcare, tourism, and nautical industries.

The mission of UniOlbia and its academic partners is to make higher education increasingly more accessible, rooted in the local context, and strategic for Sardinia’s future. Investing in education means investing in people and in the skills that will drive the growth of key sectors such as nautical, a long-standing cornerstone of the regional economic fabric.

Visit UniOlbia’s website

In July 2025, the waters of Gallura recorded 1,358 superyachts over 24 meters, with a total estimated value exceeding 6 billion dollars. These figures confirm Sardinia as a top-tier destination for high-end yachting and underscore the central role of Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, now preparing for its 5th Edition in Spring 2026. The data was presented by Cipnes Gallura, in collaboration with Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, during an institutional event focused on the nautical sector and the marine economy, with the participation of Regional Minister Emanuele Cani.

Fiera Nautica di Sardegna continues to serve as a strategic platform for promoting the regional nautical supply chain. With growing national and international attention, the 2026 Edition will be a key opportunity to highlight data, expertise, and new projects, while fostering collaboration among companies, shipyards, institutions, and professionals across the sector.

The Cipnes Research Center, in cooperation with the Direzione Marittima del Nord Sardegna, presented the updated study on the presence of superyachts along the Gallura coastline. The areas with the highest concentration in July 2025 were La Maddalena (1,107), Costa Smeralda (1,025), and Porto Rotondo (862). Many yachts were built by Italian shipyards, reaffirming the global leadership of Made in Italy in the luxury yacht industry.

The event also highlighted the importance of training, with contributions from UniOlbia and the Naval Engineering degree program in collaboration with the University of Cagliari. The 2025 report by Il Sole 24 Ore, presented during the event, emphasized Sardinia’s growing relevance in the national nautical landscape, both from an industrial and a tourism perspective.

As stated by Regional Minister Emanuele Cani, the Region is committed to developing the nautical sector as an integrated industrial supply chain, with Fiera Nautica di Sardegna at the center of a strategy focused on innovation, internationalization, and sustainable growth. The 2026 edition will be a key moment to strengthen the regional production system and position Sardinia among the main nautical hubs in the Mediterranean.

Further updates will be available on the official website.