Polimi Nautical Hub 2025: a day dedicated to innovation and sustainability in the nautical sector
On 4 April 2025, the first edition of Polimi Nautical Hub took place at the Bovisa La Masa Campus of Politecnico di Milano, an event open to the public and entirely dedicated to innovation and sustainability in the nautical sector. The initiative was organised and promoted by the Physis PEB (Polimi Energy Boat) student team, founded in 2021 thanks to the collaboration between the Departments of Mechanics and Energy at the Politecnico di Milano.
The day offered an important opportunity for students, researchers, professionals and enthusiasts to come together with the aim of exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with the ecological transition in the nautical sector. During the morning, the outdoor exhibition area hosted prototypes and advanced technological solutions developed by university teams and industry players, highlighting the importance of applied research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
In the afternoon, the event continued with a series of technical presentations and testimonials in the “Carassa e Dadda” lecture hall. The presentations ranged from the evolution of sustainable propulsion systems to the new frontiers of materials and digital technologies, offering an overview of emerging trends and future prospects for low-environmental-impact boating.
«Polimi Nautical Hub was born from the desire to create a bridge between university education and the world of industrial innovation, focusing on the talent and initiative of students», said Paolo Schito, professor in the Department of Mechanics.
«The value of Physis PEB lies in its ability to bring together students with different skills to work towards a common goal, transforming technical complexity into an opportunity for growth and innovation», added Riccardo Mereu, professor in the Department of Energy.
Among the companies present, the event saw the participation of companies and partners who contributed to showcasing innovative solutions and cutting-edge testimonials. Here are the protagonists:
- Ecomotive Solutions, which presented a NEF60 engine converted to run on hydrogen, demonstrating its commitment to decarbonising propulsion;
- Rainbow Team, with its GT30 and F2 two-seater racing boats, demonstrating the role of competitions as a testing ground for sustainable technologies;
- Physis PEB, with its hybrid catamaran designed for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, a symbol of the talent and interdisciplinary collaboration between students and teachers at Politecnico di Milano;
- Aten, which exhibited a high-performance 3D printer and proprietary hot end, opening up new prospects for digital production in the nautical field;
- Laser Navigation, which proposed remote-controlled autonomous buoys and presented the Deep Sphere experimental project, dedicated to exploring the frontiers of intelligent navigation;
- Chiaravalli Group, main sponsor of the Physis PEB team, which shared its experience in the automotive powertrain sector, highlighting synergies and technology transferability between industrial fields;
- Polimi Sailing Team, with the Febe boat designed for the Sumoth Challenge, which integrates research, design and sustainability;
- Nautech, present with a selection of recent issues of the magazine, emphasising the importance of dialogue between academia, industry and dissemination;
- Syensqo, which illustrated the potential of sustainable plastics for the nautical sector;
- NatPower H, which presented its vision of hydrogen refuelling stations for recreational boating;
- Luca Olivari, who explored the evolution of materials in racing boats, from design to performance;
- Sergio Abrami, who shared his experience in the field of nautical design, focusing on safety regulations and the critical use of carbon in competitions.
