European Additive Manufacturing Defence Network launches
The European Additive Manufacturing Defence Network (AMDefNet) has officially launched. The organisation aims to support the development of a coordinated European strategy for Additive Manufacturing in defence and security.
The association seeks to address what it describes as a fragmented landscape of AM initiatives across Europe. While numerous organisations are active in the field, these are typically industry-focused and limited to national or regional efforts. AMDefNet aims to consolidate these activities at a European level and promote broader collaboration between stakeholders.
According to the organisation, one of its primary objectives is to support the adoption of Additive Manufacturing technologies by military and emergency services through improved coordination, shared knowledge, and the development of common principles.
“We must ensure that we work together more effectively in Europe,” AMDefNet stated. “There are many strong initiatives to make Additive Manufacturing available to the armed forces, but these are often limited to national efforts rather than coordinated European action.”
AMDefNet’s goal is to enable Europe to leverage Additive Manufacturing to strengthen technological sovereignty, resilience, and operational capability within the defence and security sectors. Central to this is the development of a common European framework to support responsible innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
By connecting stakeholders from industry, research institutions, government agencies, and security and emergency response organisations, the network aims to support a more coordinated and technology-driven approach to European security.
The organisation’s mission focuses on developing the foundations for a European strategy for Additive Manufacturing in defence and security. This includes facilitating knowledge exchange, supporting collaboration across sectors, and enabling the development of practical applications.
Through activities such as publications, consulting, and training, AMDefNet states that it will promote the effective and transparent use of Additive Manufacturing within the European security environment. The organisation also aims to address organisational barriers and increase awareness of AM as an emerging technology in defence-related applications.
