Joint Laboratory of Marine Technology: Naval Group, Centrale Nantes and the University of Nantes join forces within the framework of the NExT I-SITE project

Front row, from left to right: Arnaud Poitou, Director of Centrale Nantes, Gilles Langlois, Director of Naval Group Research, Olivier Laboux, President of the University of Nantes
The setting up of this joint laboratory continues a long history of co-operation between the three establishments.

Combining expertise for collaborative and innovative R&D

Centrale Nantes and the University of Nantes are joining forces with Naval Group, the European leader in naval defence. The aim is to speed up technological developments in three key areas* of military shipbuilding and provide vessels with true operational superiority on the seas.

This initiative is in line with the NExT (Nantes Excellence Trajectory) I-SITE project, which aims to make the Nantes area an international benchmark in two fields of excellence: health and the industry of the future, with a focus on advanced production technologies and ocean engineering.

The laboratory has been created to pool the academic and industrial expertise of Centrale Nantes, the University of Nantes and Naval Group in order to generate qualified innovation for the industrial applications of Naval Group in military shipbuilding.

"This joint laboratory is in keeping with the long history of collaboration between our organisations in the naval area. The expertise of Naval Group, combined with the research and innovation capabilities of Centrale Nantes and the University of Nantes, will allow us to create the best possible conditions for the development of the naval defence industry and of marine renewable energies" stated Arnaud Poitou, Director of Centrale Nantes.


* Three key areas of military shipbuilding
Around thirty international researchers, professors, engineers, PhD students, Post-doctoral and Master's students, spread across three teams partnered with Naval Group teams, will work on the three chosen scientific themes:

1.    Additive Manufacturing, particularly for large-scale items:
Jean-Yves Hascoët, Professor and Dean of Research at Centrale Nantes and Laurent Coudray, Director of the R&D Research Programme at Naval Group, will take head up this section.

2.    Naval hydrodynamics, and simulator development:
David Le Touze, Professor at Centrale Nantes and Jean-Jacques Maisonneuve, an expert in fluid-mechanics simulation at Naval Group Research, will take the lead in this area.

3.     Multi-physics numerical simulation, or the modelling and simulation of structures made with innovative materials
Erwan Verron, Professor at Centrale Nantes and Jean-François Sigrist, Head of the Structural Dynamics Department at Naval Group Research, will take charge of this area.

Provisional budget: 4.5 million euros over three years.