ON AIR S.R.L.

Their core work

ON AIR S.R.L. is a Genova-based technology SME specialising in autonomous unmanned vehicles for maritime environments, with demonstrated expertise in both underwater and surface platforms. Their substantive H2020 contribution was to the ENDURUNS project, where they worked on long-endurance autonomous vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells for seabed mapping and offshore infrastructure inspection. The company combines capabilities in vehicle navigation and control systems, hydrogen-based energy storage, and underwater survey operations. Being based in Genova — a major Italian port and maritime engineering hub — their focus on blue economy applications is well anchored in local industry context.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The early-period data shows no technical keywords from their involvement in FAIR Stations (2017–2019), where they participated only as a third party in a rail infrastructure project — suggesting a peripheral or support role rather than core technical contribution. The full weight of their documented H2020 expertise comes from the ENDURUNS project (2018–2023), which reveals a clear profile in hydrogen-powered autonomous maritime systems. There is no evidence of a gradual evolution — rather, ENDURUNS defines their identity in EU-funded research, while the rail project appears incidental to their main direction.

ON AIR is positioned at the intersection of autonomous unmanned systems and clean hydrogen propulsion for maritime applications — a combination that is growing in relevance as offshore wind, subsea cables, and blue economy monitoring expand across Europe.

How they like to work

ON AIR has not led any H2020 project, taking participant or third-party roles in both engagements. Despite their limited project count, ENDURUNS brought them into a large consortium of 28 partners spanning 11 countries, suggesting they are valued as a specialist contributor within multi-partner research consortia rather than a consortium architect. This profile points to an organisation that brings focused technical capability to collaborative efforts rather than one that drives project strategy.

ON AIR has built connections with 28 unique partners across 11 countries, almost entirely through the ENDURUNS project — a notably broad network for an SME with only two H2020 engagements. Their collaboration footprint is European in scope, consistent with multi-country maritime research consortia.

What sets them apart

ON AIR occupies a rare niche as an Italian SME combining autonomous vehicle systems with hydrogen energy technology specifically applied to maritime inspection and survey — a combination that few small companies bring to EU consortia. Based in Genova, they sit within one of Italy's strongest maritime engineering ecosystems, giving them practical access to port operators, offshore energy companies, and shipbuilders as potential end users. For a consortium needing a specialist in hydrogen-powered AUV or USV platforms with Italian industrial connections, they represent a distinctive and hard-to-replace profile.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ENDURUNS
  The defining project for this organisation — a €349,250 RIA engagement (2018–2023) developing hydrogen fuel cell-powered autonomous underwater and surface vehicles for seabed mapping and offshore infrastructure inspection, placing ON AIR at the frontier of clean maritime autonomy.
• FAIR Stations
  A Shift2Rail-RIA project on accessible rail stations (2017–2019) where ON AIR participated as a third party, indicating an early, exploratory connection to the rail transport sector outside their apparent core maritime focus.