Mr Francesco Canossi

Network member

Advisor / Consultant · Independent · Italy

Francesco Canossi is a Franco-Italian defence strategist and industrial engineer working at the intersection of security policy, technology, and defence-industrial strategy. Trained as a mechanical and industrial engineer at the Università di Bologna and Politecnico di Milano, he subsequently worked as a strategy consultant at Kearney's Aerospace and Defence practice, advising governments and multinational prime contractors across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States on defence localization, industrial cooperation, and emerging technology. He holds a minority equity stake and advisory role in MIRAI Robotics, a European maritime autonomy startup. His research and writing focus on European defence industrial policy, maritime security, and the governance of emerging technologies within alliance contexts. His essay on undersea cable vulnerability and hybrid threats was awarded second prize in the First Sea Lord's Essay Competition at the Sea Power Conference 2025, presented by Admiral Sir Gwyn Jenkins. He publishes through the Council on Geostrategy's The Broadside, among others. Francesco holds fellowships and affiliations with the Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale, the Centre d'Études Stratégiques de la Marine, the NATO Defence College Next Generation Futures programme, the Council on Geostrategy Maritime Leaders Programme, and RUSI NextGen. He serves as a mentor and panel evaluator for NATO DIANA and is a participant in the Spinelli Forum 2026. He holds dual French and Italian citizenship and is a native speaker of both languages, alongside fluent English.