GAP Secures PNRR Funding: AI to Improve Sustainability in Italian Ports

Developed by Sapiens Analytics and MILS Engineering with the support of SMACT Competence Center and the University of Trieste, the GAP project aims to transform port logistics through Artificial Intelligence.

Brescia, 23 July 2025 – Funding has been approved under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for GAP – Gestionale Accesso Porti (Port Access Management System), an innovative project supported by SMACT Competence Center, the leading digital innovation competence centre in North-Eastern Italy.

The announcement was made by Sapiens Analytics, a pioneering provider of Artificial Intelligence solutions, and MILS Engineering, a leading IT services company.

The ambitious project aims to optimise port traffic management, improve environmental sustainability and strengthen the competitiveness of Italy's logistics sector, addressing the infrastructure and digital transformation challenges facing the industry.

GAP: Artificial Intelligence for Smarter and More Sustainable Ports

The innovative GAP digital platform will integrate advanced technologies and Artificial Intelligence to reduce road congestion both within and around port areas.

By optimising traffic flows and access management, the platform aims to significantly reduce negative environmental and social impacts, including CO₂ emissions, local air pollution, road accidents and noise.

At the same time, GAP will support more efficient terminal resource planning, higher productivity, improved service levels for road hauliers through shorter delivery times, and more effective supply chain and logistics management.

The project therefore represents an important step towards the development of smart ports, where AI-driven insights can improve operational efficiency while supporting environmental sustainability.

Predictive Analytics and Digital Port Access Management

The GAP platform will provide freight forwarders and drivers with an encrypted mobile application, accessible from any smartphone without the need for dedicated hardware.

Through this application, the system will be able to identify and anticipate potential changes to port access schedules, promptly notifying users of critical situations.

Artificial Intelligence algorithms will process the collected data to provide stakeholders with a digital dashboard offering real-time information and predictive insights into port access conditions.

By continuously analysing operational data, the platform will support predictive port traffic management, enabling schedules to be adjusted in advance to prevent or mitigate disruptions caused by delays.

This data-driven approach will allow port operators, logistics providers and transport companies to make more informed decisions, improve coordination and optimise the movement of goods across the logistics chain.

A Collaborative Innovation Project for Port Infrastructure

Developed with the scientific support of the University of Trieste, particularly its Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics (DEAMS), under the leadership of Professor Longo, GAP brings together the technological and industrial expertise of Sapiens Analytics, MILS Engineering and SMACT Competence Center.

The project aims to establish a benchmark for the digitalisation and resilience of Italian port infrastructure, anticipating emerging industry requirements and creating new opportunities for innovation and development.

R. Zigliani, Strategic Manager at Sapiens Analytics, commented:

"We are proud to be advancing a project that not only addresses infrastructure and environmental challenges, but also raises cybersecurity standards in the port sector. Thanks to the support of SMACT and our collaboration with MILS Engineering, we will be able to provide Italian ports with a state-of-the-art platform capable of making a tangible difference."

Matteo Faggin, General Manager of SMACT Competence Center, stated:

"The GAP project embodies SMACT's mission: facilitating innovation projects and enabling sustainable, competitive development models by bringing together advanced expertise and emerging technologies. The collaboration between the partners demonstrates the tangible value of an innovation ecosystem capable of responding effectively to the country's infrastructure and environmental challenges."

G. Cogni, CEO of MILS Engineering, added:

"For MILS Engineering, this project represents a significant opportunity for innovation and growth. Working alongside Sapiens Analytics enables us to bring advanced technological solutions to Italian ports – solutions that are, above all, effective and specifically designed to address real-world challenges, with a direct impact on the sector's competitiveness."

Driving the Digital Transformation of Italian Port Logistics

The GAP project represents more than a technological investment. It is a significant step towards strengthening the competitiveness and environmental sustainability of Italy's port and logistics infrastructure.

Through collaboration between businesses, competence centres and academic research institutions, the initiative provides a model of collaborative innovation, capable of delivering tangible benefits for local communities and the wider national industrial sector.

The approval of funding under the PNRR confirms the strategic importance of GAP in supporting the digital transformation and resilience of port infrastructure.

By combining Artificial Intelligence, predictive analytics, secure digital technologies and advanced logistics management, the project aims to contribute to a more efficient, secure and sustainable future for Italian ports.

Sapiens Analytics – www.sapiensanalytics.ai

Sapiens Analytics is an Italian company specialising in the development of Artificial Intelligence solutions for a wide range of strategic and operational business functions, from executive management and sales to marketing, manufacturing, finance and management control.

Through its Sapiens BDH platform and a team of highly qualified data scientists working closely with leading Italian universities, Sapiens Analytics supports organisations in the effective and responsible adoption of Big Data Analytics.

Its solutions help businesses optimise processes, improve decision-making and generate measurable value from their data.

Sapiens Analytics is a Uniquon Special Partner.

SMACT is one of eight Industry 4.0 Competence Centres established in Italy through an initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.

Based in North-Eastern Italy, SMACT brings together expertise, technologies and early-adopter businesses to accelerate the digital transformation of the Italian industrial sector.

The centre provides certified training programmes tailored to companies' digitalisation requirements, fostering an innovation ecosystem in which technological advancement and a human-centred approach work together to create sustainable value.

MILS Engineering, established in 1991, is an Italian company with extensive experience in the automotive industry, alongside operations in the industrial and defence sectors.

Drawing on advanced technical, IT and management expertise, MILS develops solutions designed to optimise after-sales operations, strengthen relationships with commercial networks and improve end-customer satisfaction.

Headquartered in Milan, with its main operational base in Piacenza and a local office in Newcastle, United Kingdom, MILS Engineering operates internationally, serving markets across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East.

To learn more about Sapiens Analytics' AI solutions, contact us at welcome@sapiensanalytics.ai