The NAVAIS programme kicked off in June, with the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency of the European Commission signing the grant agreement.
NAVAIS aims to maintain the European shipbuilding industry's world-leading position in the design and construction of complex, value-added and highly specialised vessels whilst further integrating sustainability into designs.
The European Commission, via its research and innovation programme Horizon 2020, will invest €6.5 million (US$7.6 million) in NAVAIS over four years.
NAVAIS will achieve this via a platform-based modular product family approach supported by a 3DExperience integrated business platform.
The programme will focus specifically on passenger/road ferries and multi-use workboats. It will support the transfer from an engineer-to-order business model to an assemble-to-order one, allowing shorter process lead times, constant quality, reduced design and production costs and better integration of the supply chain.
The European maritime technology sector generates an annual turnover of €91 billion and supports approximately 900,000 jobs.
