Naval Group and Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in innovative research fields in the United Arab Emirates. The MoU was signed by François-Régis Boulvert, R&D Cooperation & Partnerships Director at Naval Group, and Professor Sir John O’Reilly, Khalifa University President.
Following the signing, François-Régis Boulvert, R&D Cooperation & Partnerships Director at Naval Group, stated: “We are very pleased to collaborate with Khalifa University as partner of this ambitious project. Naval Group remains committed to supporting UAE’s ambition to develop its defence and security industry by implementing sustainable, long-term partnerships which contribute to national sovereignty.”
Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, said: “We are delighted to sign this MoU with Naval Group and collaborate on obtaining innovative solutions in additive manufacturing, energy and power technologies. These areas remain crucial to the defense and security sector and as the UAE’s leading academic institution that creates and nurtures technology leaders of tomorrow, we believe the synergy resulting from this collaboration will help us to develop an advanced infrastructure ecosystem in the country through research and innovation.”
This project will contribute to the local industrialization of additive manufacturing processes on strategic materials, leading to the improvement of defense materials operational availability. It will also contribute to optimizing the performance of energy networks for naval and maritime applications.
Many companies in the UAE are exploring metal additive manufacturing as an effective way to print spare parts to address the current supply chain issues. Khalifa University and the Naval Group will investigate the printability of spare parts for improved performance using laser-powder-bed fusion metal 3D printing technique. Researchers at Khalifa University’s Advanced Digital and Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) Center, the first R&D center of its kind in the Middle East established in 2019, will be working on this project.
Beyond the common scientific interest, this collaboration paves the way to interactions between local industrial partners, leading to forums, conferences and recruitment of students, researchers and engineers.
Naval Group and the UAE, developing long-term partnerships
Naval Group has been established in the United Arab Emirates since 2010, with the objective of developing sustainable, long-term partnerships which contribute to national sovereignty.
In 2019, the United Arab Emirates ordered two Gowind® corvettes to be built in France. The first corvette was launched on December 4th 2021 in the Naval Group Lorient shipyard and the second corvette was launched on May 13th 2022. As a turnkey solution provider, Naval Group is also training the UAE Naval Forces’ crew in France. This preparation will continue in UAE with team-building and practice on operational scenario in every warfare domain.
In addition, Naval Group has a consistent and promising roadmap of industrial subjects to be implemented with various industrial partners in Abu Dhabi, proposing an ambitious focus on high added value transfers of technology and common research and development programs with UAE players.
Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
21 February 2023
