Building on a strong track record of successful events, LALIZAS brought a new industry platform to life with the International Boatbuilders Summit 2026, held on 19-20 October on the island of Aegina, Greece. The summit brought together key stakeholders from across the European boatbuilding industry, creating a dedicated forum for dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration on the issues shaping the sector’s future.
The two-day event welcomed representatives from more than 10 European countries, including boatbuilders, industry associations, naval architects, certification bodies, charter companies and marine industry media representatives. With 10 speakers, all established professionals in their respective fields, contributing to the programme, the gathering offered an opportunity for open discussions, knowledge sharing and professional networking.
The conference opened with “The State of the European Boatbuilding Industry – Opportunities & Threats”, featuring Philip Easthill, Secretary General of European Boating Industry (EBI); Jordi Carrasco, Managing Director of Spain’s ANEN; Stefano Pagani, Head of Research at Italy’s Confindustria Nautica; and Manos Roudas, an experienced maritime media professional and business consultant with over 30 years in the industry.
Together, they explored the industry’s current landscape, emerging opportunities and the challenges ahead. The discussion was further enriched by contributions from the audience, including Massimo Giottoli, Technical Manager of Ferretti Group, and Marin Matic CEO and Co-Founder of BB Yachts, who exchanged views and shared their perspectives on the topics discussed.
The conversation then turned to “How Boatbuilders Select and Develop Long-Term OEM Partners”, with representatives from Sirena Marine, Poseidon Boats, Mortain & Mavrikios Yacht Design and IRON Boats taking part in a panel discussion on the considerations behind choosing OEM partners and building lasting business relationships.
Looking ahead to the future of boating, Capt. George Parissis, Shipping Instructor and Master Mariner; Christos Liapis, Director of Base Operations and Marine Services at Sail Aegean Services; and George Papoutsis, Lofrans & MAX POWER Technical Manager, drew on their professional experience to explore what the market really expects from tomorrow’s boats.
Representing the LALIZAS Group, Iasonas Lalizas, Marketing Director, and Dimitris Alexopoulos, Boatbuilding Sales Manager, shared an overview of the Group’s latest developments and its approach to responding to changing market needs. George Papoutsis also presented the latest technology and innovations from Lofrans and MAX POWER, with a focus on NMEA 2000.
True progress begins when we stop relying on what has worked in the past and start questioning how we can do better. The future belongs to those who are willing to adapt, challenge established ways of thinking and never stop improving.
- Stavros Lalizas, Founder & CEO of LALIZAS
