3D Systems and Savannah River National Laboratory Partner on Additive Manufacturing for Energy and National Security

3D Systems has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to advance additive manufacturing (AM) for energy generation and national security applications. The collaboration centers on SRNL's Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) in South Carolina and spans materials development, process optimization, and workforce training.

The Scope of the Agreement

Under the CRADA, the partners will jointly pursue advancements across a broad technical front: materials development, equipment enhancements, AI and machine learning-enabled process optimization, manufacturing systems, cybersecurity, and workforce development training. The stated goals include next-generation AM materials, real-time process optimization tools, and scalable production solutions — along with the workforce capable of deploying them.

Cutting-edge 3D Systems equipment has already been installed at the AMC, positioning the facility for both research and demonstration of production-ready processes. The CRADA structure is designed to create a pathway from foundational research to technology transfer and commercial application.

Nuclear Energy as the Primary Target

The collaboration places particular emphasis on critical energy challenges, with nuclear energy at the center. Additive manufacturing enables fabrication of complex components from advanced alloys that are difficult or impossible to produce by conventional methods. The partnership supports development of high-temperature nickel-based superalloys and other radiation-tolerant materials for advanced nuclear systems.

The timing is deliberate. The U.S. nuclear and energy sectors are seeing renewed investment and innovation, and demand for low-carbon power is rising. According to the International Energy Agency, small modular reactor capacity could grow to roughly 40 gigawatts under current policies — or up to 120 gigawatts in accelerated scenarios — by 2050.

Bridging the Lab-to-Fab Gap

Beyond the research itself, the partnership aims to help bridge laboratory innovation with industrial readiness — a persistent bottleneck in advanced manufacturing. The collaboration also expands opportunities for training the next generation of AM scientists, engineers, and technicians, addressing the workforce side of technology adoption.