Additive Manufacturing for Ships

Challenge 3

Challenge #3: Control Regimes Enabling Sustainable Additive Manufacturing for Ships

The maritime and naval sectors face ongoing challenges in maintaining complex supply chains for ship parts, particularly as many components become obsolete or are no longer available from their original manufacturers. Ships operating far from ports must perform timely repairs and upgrades without relying on traditional supply channels.

Additive manufacturing—such as 3D printing of metals and plastics—offers a promising solution by enabling on-demand production of parts. However, integrating this technology into established supply chains while meeting stringent regulatory and quality standards remains a significant hurdle. Additionally, the dynamic environment at sea, diverse material requirements, and the need for trained personnel add further complexity.

This challenge seeks innovative solutions that embed additive manufacturing within compliant, supply chain-integrated frameworks, overcoming hardware limitations and ensuring the crew is skilled and prepared. The goal is to enhance operational readiness, reduce downtime, and future-proof ship maintenance for remote and extended missions.

Criteria for Enabling Sustainable Additive Manufacturing for Ships:

Evaluators will assess proposals using a balanced set of criteria that prioritizes practical impact, innovation, and long-term viability. Successful submissions must clearly show how their solutions address the key operational, regulatory, and technical challenges of applying additive manufacturing in ship support.

• Ensure Compliance and Integration: Demonstrate clear regulatory alignment and effective integration of additive manufacturing into existing supply chains, including part numbering and inventory management
• Address Technical and Operational Challenges: Provide solutions adaptable to diverse materials and hardware requirements, suitable for the varied tasks encountered in ship support
• Support Skills Development and Sustainability: Outline comprehensive training plans and show potential for rapid implementation with lasting operational benefits

Additional Considerations:

• Propose technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or higher
• Shows strong potential for the solution to become viable and sustainable
• Navigating regulatory hurdles, such as shipping code compliance, must be demonstrated in the proposal
• Bidders should demonstrate awareness of government security and clearance requirements, including associated timelines if the exchange of engineering data is necessary

Thales’ Goals

This initiative aligns with Thales’ ambition to:

• Lead Innovation in AJISS: Strengthen the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Joint Support Ships (JSS), also known as AJISS, programs through advanced technology integration
• Leverage SME Agility: Harness the speed, creativity, and ecosystem strengths of start-ups and SMEs, particularly in Atlantic Canada
• Accelerate the AJISS Roadmap: Position successful solutions for integration via a Value Engineering Change Proposal submitted to AJISS stakeholders

Rules & Requirements

Eligible applicants may submit one proposal per challenge in either English or French.

All applications must include the following components:

• Solution Description and Impact: A clear explanation of the proposed solution, including its practical implications and anticipated benefits
• Novelty of the Innovation: A discussion of how the solution is unique or significantly advances the state of the art
• Organizational Capability and Resources: Summary of team expertise, infrastructure, and access to necessary resources
• Relevant Technological Experience: Demonstrated experience with technologies or methodologies pertinent to the proposed solution
• Level of Innovation: Assessment of the innovation’s ambition, originality, and transformative potential
• Technology Development Roadmap: Outline of the current development status and a forward-looking plan toward full commercialization, including key milestones

Eligibility

The Naval Technology Innovation Challenge is Pan-Atlantic in scope and open to commercial and non-commercial organizations.

The challenge is open to:

• Incorporated businesses in Atlantic Canada
• SMEs, as well as Indigenous organizations
• Post-secondary institutions and other organizations can apply only if they partner with an SME or Indigenous organization

Evaluation Process

A selection panel will review applications using a weighted scoring system across the following categories:

• Solution fit: 25%
• Impact: 20%
• Expertise: 15%
• Resources: 25%
• Innovation: 5%
• Timeline: 10%

The panel includes representatives from COVE, Thales, the National Research Council, and an industry partner. After the application period closes, each panel member will independently evaluate submissions using a standardized scoring package.

Once scoring is complete, the panel will convene to review the results and select the winning company. Before making any public announcement, the panel will notify the selected applicant. COVE will then coordinate with the winner to manage communications.

Note: The selected company must submit financial statements before the final announcement.

Submit Application