The world’s oceans power global trade, communication, and economic growth—but they remain one of the least digitized operational environments on Earth. A new European robotics company aims to change that.
Mirai Robotics, an emerging AI-driven robotics lab headquartered in southern Italy, has secured $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop autonomous technologies designed for maritime monitoring, surveillance, and control. The round was led by venture capital firms Primo Capital, Techshop, and 40Jemz Ventures, with participation from several European and international angel investors.
The investment marks one of the largest pre-seed rounds in Italy’s robotics and deep-tech sector, signaling growing interest in autonomous systems designed for mission-critical environments such as oceans and offshore infrastructure.
Why the Ocean Needs Autonomous Infrastructure
Despite the digital transformation across industries, maritime operations still rely heavily on manual processes and human supervision.
The scale of the sector highlights why this gap matters:
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Over 80% of global trade moves through maritime routes.
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Around 90% of Europe’s foreign trade depends on shipping networks.
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Nearly 95% of international internet traffic travels through subsea cables beneath the oceans.
At the same time, the global blue economy—valued at more than $2.5 trillion—is projected to exceed $4 trillion by 2030.
Yet maritime operations face growing challenges:
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High operational and maintenance costs
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Limited real-time visibility across vast ocean areas
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Significant exposure to environmental and security risks
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A growing shortage of skilled maritime professionals
The shortage of experienced captains and operators, combined with aging workforces across the sector, is creating pressure on traditional operational models.
This is the challenge Mirai Robotics was created to address.
Building Robotics for the Ocean
Mirai Robotics focuses on creating autonomous maritime systems capable of persistent monitoring and surveillance in both coastal and offshore environments.
Rather than approaching autonomy purely as software, the company integrates multiple technologies into physical systems, including:
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Autonomous marine vehicles
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AI-powered perception and navigation systems
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Advanced sensing technologies
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Mission-critical control infrastructure
These technologies are designed to enable continuous maritime observation and automated patrolling, helping reduce operational costs and limiting human exposure to dangerous conditions at sea.
According to CEO Luciano Belviso:
“The sea is one of the last major physical infrastructures not yet governed by software. Autonomy will allow oceans to become safer, more observable, and more usable—but this requires systems that can operate reliably in extreme environments.”
Autonomous Vehicles for Maritime Intelligence and Patrol
Mirai Robotics has already developed two autonomous maritime vehicles intended for ISR operations—short for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.
These platforms include:
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Autonomous navigation systems
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High-precision environmental perception
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Remote control and monitoring features
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Safety systems for mission-critical operations
The vehicles can operate independently or as part of coordinated fleets, enabling large-scale maritime monitoring networks.
In addition to its own platforms, the company also develops autonomy and navigation software that can be integrated into third-party vessels, allowing shipping companies, industrial operators, and government agencies to adopt autonomous capabilities without redesigning existing fleets.
This dual-use strategy means Mirai’s technology can support both civilian and institutional maritime operations, including infrastructure monitoring, environmental surveillance, and maritime security.
Italy’s Maritime Heritage Meets Advanced Robotics
The company’s origins in Italy are no coincidence.
Italy has long been a global leader in maritime engineering and shipbuilding, with world-class expertise across sectors such as defense, yachting, offshore infrastructure, and naval technology.
Mirai Robotics combines this industrial heritage with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems.
The company is headquartered in Puglia, chosen as a strategic location linking Mediterranean maritime operations with research institutions and industrial partners.
Its founders bring experience from several successful European technology ventures:
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Luciano Belviso – former leader of aerospace manufacturer Blackshape
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Luca Mascaro – founder of digital design firm Sketchin, later acquired by BIP Group
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Davide Dattoli – founder of European innovation network Talent Garden
Together, they have assembled a pan-European team of robotics engineers, AI researchers, and systems experts, working with universities and research institutions to advance maritime autonomy.
A Critical Infrastructure Layer for the Blue Economy
For investors, the opportunity goes far beyond robotics hardware.
According to Gianluca Dettori, partner at Primo Capital:
“The maritime domain is at an inflection point. A massive global economy still depends on operational models designed decades ago. The human capital gap alone makes the current system unsustainable.”
He adds that Mirai Robotics is building something deeper than automation:
“This is the infrastructure layer that will allow the blue economy to scale safely and efficiently.”
What the Funding Will Support
The newly raised capital will allow Mirai Robotics to:
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Accelerate development of its autonomous maritime platforms
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Expand its robotics and AI engineering teams
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Launch pilot programs with industrial and institutional partners
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Strengthen Europe’s leadership in maritime autonomy
If successful, Mirai Robotics could play a key role in shaping the next generation of maritime infrastructure, where autonomous systems monitor oceans, protect underwater networks, and support safer global trade.
As the blue economy continues to grow, the ocean may soon become one of the most important frontiers for robotics and artificial intelligence.
