Founded in 1224, the University of Naples Federico II is the oldest public university in the world and a leading centre for higher education and research in Southern Italy, with a long-standing tradition of academic excellence.
The Marine Technology Research (MATER) Group conducts interdisciplinary research and provides B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. education in marine and naval engineering, with a focus on:
- Advanced hull design for high-speed, special-purpose and military vessels, including stability, resistance, propulsion, seakeeping, roll damping and manoeuvrability;
- Marine renewable energy, with a focus on energy harvesting from waves, wind and marine currents;
- Marine energy storage systems, including compressed-air energy storage (CAES) and hydropower storage.
Our research combines theoretical modelling, numerical simulations and experimental testing. In-house models range from linear and nonlinear potential-flow approaches, including viscous corrections, to high-fidelity CFD simulations. Experimental research is carried out at the Hydrodynamic Testing Laboratory, equipped with wave-generation facilities and instrumentation for full-scale measurements aboard marine vessels, and at the MaRELab offshore laboratory, in collaboration with CNR-INM and the University of Campania.
The integration of numerical modelling and experimental validation supports the development and verification of advanced methodologies and the advancement of innovative marine technologies towards higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The group actively collaborates with academic, institutional and industrial partners at national and international level, contributing to both fundamental research and technology development.