What M3S does

M3S Srl is a privately held Italian ICT research and development consultancy headquartered in Genoa, founded in 2005 as a joint venture between University of Genoa, University of Padua and Marconi Communications. Following Ericsson's 2007 acquisition of Marconi Communications, the firm evolved into an academically anchored open research centre whose stated mission is to develop and market innovative products and services in computer networks and distributed systems. The company operates with 1–10 employees and is run as a for-profit Srl operating primarily within Italy and the broader European Union, with project funding drawn from corporate clients, public bodies, and research agencies.

M3S's product portfolio comprises eight identified software platforms: Logistics DataSpace (a blockchain-enabled data-exchange platform for port logistics piloted at the Port of Genoa), Yacht Single Window (search-and-rescue support for the Italian Coast Guard), an IoT Service Platform built on an event-driven asynchronous-I/O paradigm, BLSTR (Bounded Latency Spanning Tree Reconfiguration for fault-tolerant Carrier Ethernet), a Traffic Monitoring Platform for SLA validation in access networks, a Service Orchestration/Mashup platform originally developed under an EU telecom-operator project and now applied to IoT object virtualization, an Integration Layer for industrial automation (notably railway signalling with Hitachi Rail STS), and Blockchain-for-Supply-Chain research that contributed to the World Economic Forum Task Force report. The Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol implementation (IEEE 802.1D-2004 compliant) was validated against Ixia's ANVL test suite and merged into Open vSwitch v2.4.0 in August 2015. Underlying technical competencies span Java and C development, IEEE 802.1D/802.1Q networking, distributed systems, and complex event processing.

The business model is professional-services-led: M3S combines internal R&D (producing know-how, reusable components and platforms) with external projects funded by corporate clients (e.g. Ericsson, Leonardo, Hitachi Rail STS), public organisations (Comune di Genova, Italian Coast Guard, Istituto Idrografico della Marina), and grant-funded research consortia (Regione Liguria FESR, EU Horizon 2020 such as UNaLab). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements appear to be project-based research and development contracts in the logistics/port, maritime safety, telecommunications, railway automation, and smart-city verticals.

Name

M3S

Legal name

M3S Srl

Website

https://m3s.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

M3S Srl is a Genoa-based ICT research and development consultancy founded in 2005 that designs and builds specialised software platforms in computer networks, distributed systems, IoT orchestration, Ethernet fault tolerance, and blockchain-based logistics for port and maritime clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ICT Research and Development Consultancy

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)

SIC

Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Connectivity & Networks (5G/LPWAN/TSN/Industrial Ethernet) (IMAIAMAH)

Keywords

• ICT research consultancy
• Distributed systems development
• Embedded network protocols
• Blockchain supply chain
• IoT service orchestration

Headquarters

HQ city

Genova

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research and Development Services: M3S develops both internal projects aimed at producing know-how, products and services and external projects for companies and public organizations funded by research agencies. Revenue appears to come from consultancy contracts, research projects, and potentially product development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

M3S develops and markets innovative software products and provides ICT research and development consultancy in the fields of computer networks and distributed systems. The company delivers both internal R&D projects producing proprietary platforms (e.g., Logistics DataSpace, IoT Service Platform, BLSTR, Integration Layer for railway automation) and external consultancy projects for companies, public organizations, and EU/regional research agencies. Its offerings span embedded network protocols, traffic monitoring, IoT service orchestration, blockchain for supply chain, and industrial automation integration.

Product overview

M3S develops and markets innovative products and services in Computer Networks and Distributed Systems. The company offers multiple specialized software platforms including Logistics DataSpace (blockchain-based logistics platform), the Internet of Things Service Platform (service orchestration for IoT), Integration Layer for industrial automation, a Traffic Monitoring Platform for QoS/QoE measurement, and Yacht Single Window for maritime safety. The portfolio also includes advanced networking technologies such as Software Defined Ethernet Networking with BLSTR (bounded latency spanning tree reconfiguration) and a Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol implementation integrated into Open vSwitch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Logistics DataSpace A digital platform for logistics communities enabling secure data exchange and innovative services such as automated access control and cargo tracking, leveraging blockchain technology for an immutable shared shipping data registry. Developed as a research project for the Port of Genoa with endorsements from Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Ligure Occidentale, Spediporto, and Assoagenti.
• Yacht Single Window A software platform supporting Search and Rescue operations and yachting safety, developed in collaboration with the Liguria District of Marine Technology (DLTM) and the Italian Coast Guard.
• Internet of Things Service Platform A scalable, fault-tolerant software platform for IoT applications supporting the orchestration of services associated to Things, based on the Event Driven paradigm exploiting Asynchronous I/O technology. Published in IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Vol. 2, No. 6, 2015.
• Software Defined Ethernet Networking (BLSTR) A network engineering technique called Bounded Latency Spanning Tree Reconfiguration (BLSTR) that guarantees worst-case recovery latency in case of single faults by adopting a time-bounded bridge port reconfiguration mechanism and eliminating the bandwidth-consuming station discovery phase. Published in Computer Networks, Elsevier, Vol. 76, 2015.
• Blockchain for Supply Chain Research and applications of blockchain technology for port operations and global logistics, including contributions to the World Economic Forum Task Force on Blockchain for Supply Chain. Used as the underlying technology for Logistics DataSpace to create a shared digital registry of shipping data.
• Integration Layer - Automation 2.0 Platforms and tools for connecting systems and applications in industrial automation, with particular focus on railways automation and signaling systems. Features complex event processing, payload validation, authentication, authorization, high availability, and scalability.
• Traffic Monitoring Platform A monitoring platform aimed at measuring the Quality of Service and Quality of Experience of remote Internet access services, exploitable for validating Service Level Agreements between access network providers and their clients.
• Service Orchestration Platform A service orchestration platform supporting execution of Composite Services (Mashups) combining atomic services available through Web APIs. Originally developed in a European project on telecom operator services (Open platform for user-centric service creation and execution) and later adopted as infrastructure for object virtualization in the Internet of Things.
• UNaLab EU Horizon 2020-funded smart city and urban nature-based solutions project. M3S contributes as part of a 28-partner consortium spanning 10 cities across Europe, including municipalities, research institutions, and industry partners.
• ICT Consultancy and R&D Services Bespoke ICT consultancy, research, and development services covering design and development of centralized and distributed information systems in Java and C, configuration and management of Java frameworks and application servers, and mastery of network protocols. Provided to companies, public organizations, and EU/regional research agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Worst-case reconfiguration time of Ethernet spanning-tree after failure guaranteed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIPI (Centro Interuniversitario di ricerca sull'Ingegneria delle Piattaforme Informatiche)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research center focused on ICT platform engineering, collaboration on research projects and academic initiatives.
• EricssoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelecommunications company acquired Marconi Communications in 2007, strengthening M3S's connection with industry after the acquisition.
• LeonardocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge defense and civilian ICT company, part of M3S's network of top-level large companies for industry collaboration.
• RINA (Registro Italiano NAvale)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Naval Register, maritime classification society collaborating on marine technology research.
• Hitachi Rail STSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailway automation and signaling systems company, collaborating on Integration Layer automation projects.
• EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian ICT company, part of M3S's collaboration network for technology development.
• FincantieriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian shipbuilding company, collaborating on marine technology and naval engineering projects.
• Hub TelematicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics technology company, partner in Logistics DataSpace project for port automation and blockchain solutions.
• InfocomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnology solutions company, part of M3S's collaboration network.
• Click & FindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company, partner in Logistics DataSpace project for innovative logistics technologies.
• DLTM (Distretto Ligure delle Tecnologie Marine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLigurian District of Marine Technologies, collaborating on Yacht Single Window project for search and rescue and yachting safety.
• SIIT (Sistemi Intelligenti Integrati Tecnologie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntelligent integrated technologies company, part of M3S's collaboration network.
• Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment maritime authority, collaborating on Yacht Single Window project for search and rescue operations.
• Istituto Idrografico della MarinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Hydrographic Institute of the Navy, collaborating on marine technology projects.
• Comune di GenovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Genoa, smart city initiatives and urban technology projects.
• AitekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Logistics DataSpace project, Genoa-based company specializing in port logistics technology.
• CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Logistics DataSpace project, company focused on port and logistics solutions.
• Selesta IngegneriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Logistics DataSpace project, engineering company for logistics automation systems.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerM3S participation through Prof. Massimo Maresca in World Economic Forum Task Force on Blockchain for Supply Chain; contributed to report on Inclusive Deployment of Blockchain for Supply Chains.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eurotech: Listed Italian provider of edge computing, IoT gateways, and embedded platforms. A direct peer given M3S's IoT service platform and edge-relevant industrial networking focus.
• Engineering Ingegneria Informatica: One of Italy's largest IT services and system integration companies, with public-sector and industrial clients. Directly comparable because it operates in the same Italian ICT consulting market and is already a named partner in M3S's ecosystem.
• TXT e-solutions: Italian technology consultancy with aerospace, industrial, and public-sector practices. Directly comparable to M3S as a domestic Italian specialist IT services firm with a similar vertical mix.
• Hub Telematica: Italian logistics technology company focused on port community systems and telematic platforms. A direct peer through shared Logistics DataSpace participation and overlapping Port of Genoa customer base.
• Aitek: Genoa-based ICT firm specializing in port and transportation technology. A direct peer because it co-developed the Logistics DataSpace project with M3S and serves the same Port of Genoa customer set.
• Circle Group: Italian software vendor specializing in port, terminal, and intermodal logistics solutions. A direct peer because it partnered with M3S on Logistics DataSpace and targets the same port authority and terminal operator customers.
• Selesta Ingegneria: Italian engineering firm focused on automation, access control, and logistics systems. A direct peer via co-participation in Logistics DataSpace and shared focus on port/logistics automation.

Broad incumbents

• Reply: Large Italian IT consulting and systems integration group with deep presence in telecom, manufacturing, and digital transformation. Closely comparable to M3S as a domestic Italian ICT services peer, but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Capgemini Engineering: Global engineering and R&D services arm of Capgemini (formerly Altran). A broad incumbent that competes with M3S for industrial automation, networking, and systems integration engagements at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Movalia: Italian technology firm providing digital, IoT, and software engineering services to industrial and public-sector clients. An emerging peer with comparable size and offering overlap to M3S, especially in IoT and industrial software.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/m3s-srl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about M3S