Know Hub Chile to bring together representatives of the national shipbuilding industry at Dual Hub Summit ExpoNaval 2026

On December 3 at Espacio Riesco, the event will bring together government officials, shipyards, and technology developers to address innovation and supply-chain challenges in the shipbuilding industry. The organization will also have a booth featuring teams from the Desafío Avante program and local companies.

Strengthening Chile’s naval industry requires fostering supply-chain integration between shipyards and local suppliers, while driving the modernization of existing companies and the entry of new players into the value chain. In this process, collaboration with universities, technology centers, and small and medium-sized enterprises is essential to address specific productivity, quality, and technology gaps in light of defense requirements.

Against this backdrop, Know Hub Chile will hold the fifth edition of “Dual Hub Summit ExpoNaval 2026: Opportunities for the National Industry under the Shipbuilding Policy” on Thursday, December 3. The event will take place in the Technical Talks Hall at Espacio Riesco and will address shipbuilding as an integrated strategic capability for the country, exploring the dual-use potential of its entire value chain.

The event program includes presentations by the Shipbuilding Committee and operational insights from the country’s leading shipyards (ASMAR, ASENAV, and SITECNA). These panels will examine the sector’s immediate challenges, including the adoption of advanced manufacturing, the consolidation of national suppliers, and the training of skilled human capital.

The National Shipbuilding Policy presents an unprecedented opportunity to boost the country’s technological and productive capabilities, says Javier Ramírez, Executive Director of Know Hub Chile: “Beyond navigation or the broader maritime sphere, shipbuilding takes place on land and encompasses the metalworking industry, logistics, maintenance, and specialized repairs. Our role is to connect innovation from universities and emerging companies with the operational requirements of national shipyards and the Armed Forces.”

Dual-use innovation 

Alongside the Summit discussions and throughout the three-day trade fair, the organization will have a booth in ExpoNaval’s main pavilion. The space will serve as a commercial and technology showcase, demonstrating the impact of dual-use innovation firsthand, with active participation from companies in the national industry and winning teams from the Desafío Avante program.

Established in 2019 as Latin America’s first open innovation platform for defense, Avante has helped turn scientific research and development into solutions validated for naval use and with significant commercial value in productive sectors such as mining, aquaculture, and logistics. Internationally recognized success stories—including Acústica Marina (hydroacoustic monitoring), Jaksol and Mine Analytics (predictive maintenance and software for shipyards), Centro de Innovación Moderniza (cost management and control for shipbuilding), and Bosses SpA (hybrid propulsion)—demonstrate the program’s track record as a facilitator of sophisticated suppliers.

Through the Dual Hub Summit and its exhibition space at ExpoNaval 2026, Know Hub Chile aims to consolidate a cooperation model that lowers barriers to entry for defense projects and strengthens the country’s productive autonomy.

More information at: https://dualhub.cl/summit-exponaval-2026