Second Blue Design Summit to be held in May in La Spezia
The second edition of the Blue Design Summit (BDS), a conference and expo dedicated to all aspects of life on the water, from superyacht design, boatbuilding, and refitting to cruising and marinas, will be held in La Spezia from 13 to 15 May.
The summit will host three days of meetings, technical visits, conferences, and networking. BDS is aimed at key players in the national and international design industry.
The 2025 edition is titled ‘From Water to Design’, with the event positioned as a think tank dedicated to analysing new developments for living on the water and increasingly advanced, efficient, and sustainable vessels.
With a focus on blending artisanal tradition and cutting-edge technology, the second edition of BDS aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the nautical sector while outlining future trends, fostering new collaboration opportunities, discussions, and inspiration.
Pierluigi Peracchini, mayor of La Spezia, says: “La Spezia is an international reference point for the nautical and design industries. The latest report on the blue economy highlights a sector-generated added value of over €1.145 billion, positioning us as the leading Italian city for the impact of the maritime economy on the overall economy, with more than 14,000 employees. Furthermore, La Spezia recently won the national selection to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Design, now moving forward to the international phase. This candidacy is the result of a long journey of development that has made our city a global reference in the yachting industry. We are the world capital of yachting, a district of excellence where yachts and mega yachts are designed and built for global markets, thanks to the presence of leading companies and some of the biggest names in nautical design. Moreover, with the Miglio Blu project, La Spezia continues to strengthen its role of excellence, fostering innovation, research, and development in a strategic sector for the future. Hosting the second edition of the Blue Design Summit is further proof of our city’s central role in nautical design. This event represents a unique opportunity to connect industry players, promote innovation, research, and training, and enhance our University Campus, a true local excellence.”
Organised by Clickutility Team and Promostudi La Spezia, the Blue Design Summit is promoted by Miglio Blu with the institutional partnership of the Municipality of La Spezia and the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority.
Federica Montaresi, extraordinary commissioner of the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority, says: “The ports of La Spezia and Marina di Carrara are home to some of the world’s most important brands in the yachting and shipbuilding industries. Our port system is, therefore, the ideal hub for all the assets that drive the growth of this sector. The port authority has recently joined the Miglio Blu – La Spezia for Nautical Industry memorandum of understanding – to contribute together with the Municipality of La Spezia and all stakeholders in the supply chain to the enhancement of the yachting district, yacht shipbuilding, and the blue economy within a framework of environmental sustainability. We have decided to support the second edition of the Blue Design Summit, building on the success of the first edition and firmly believing in the value this initiative brings to such a strategic sector for our port system and the entire region in terms of economic and social impact. We will continue to invest in collaboration with port concessionaires.”
According to the organisers, Italy has 572 superyachts under construction out of a total of 1,138, representing a 51 per cent market share. Overall, the country is also the world’s top exporter of recreational boats, reaching a record €4.5 billion in exports in 2024 (data from Confindustria Nautica 2024 report).
Patrizia Saccone, councillor of the Municipality of La Spezia, states: “La Spezia reaffirms its status as a global excellence in the yachting industry, seamlessly combining tradition and innovation within a unique ecosystem, with the Miglio Blu at its core. This district hosts the most prestigious shipyards, research centers, and industry best practices, serving as a true laboratory where the future of yachting takes shape. In this regard, the Blue Design Summit fits perfectly into this framework, fostering dialogue among designers, shipyards, and suppliers to encourage discussions on market challenges and industry prospects, as well as to explore future directions in design and technology.”
The summit will also feature the second edition of the Blue Design Awards, assigned through an open and independent selection process by a Scientific Committee composed of designers, journalists, and industry experts.
