The event, to be held on December 3 at Espacio Riesco, will bring together government officials, shipyards, and technology developers to address the challenges of innovation and supply chain integration in the shipbuilding industry. In addition, the corporation will have a booth featuring teams from the Desafío Avante program and local companies.
Strengthening the Chilean shipbuilding industry requires enhancing the production chain between shipyards and local suppliers, promoting 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 gaps in productivity, quality, and technology in light of defense requirements.
In this context, Know Hub Chile will host the fifth edition of the “Dual Hub Summit ExpoNaval 2026: Opportunities for the Domestic Industry within the Framework of the Shipbuilding Policy” on Thursday, December 3. The event will take place in the Technical Talks room at Espacio Riesco and will address shipbuilding as a comprehensive strategic capability for the country, delving into the dual-use potential offered by its entire value chain.
The event’s program includes presentations by the Shipbuilding Committee and discussions on the operational experiences of the country’s leading shipyards (ASMAR, ASENAV, and SITECNA). Through these panel discussions, the sector’s immediate challenges will be analyzed, such as the adoption of advanced manufacturing, the consolidation of domestic suppliers, and the development of a skilled workforce.
The National Shipbuilding Policy presents an unprecedented opportunity to boost the country’s technological and productive capabilities, notes Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub Chile: “Beyond navigation or the maritime sector in general, shipbuilding takes place on land, encompassing the metalworking industry, logistics, maintenance, and specialized repairs. Our work consists of aligning innovation from universities and startups with the operational requirements of national shipyards and the Armed Forces.”
Dual Innovation
In addition to the Summit discussions and throughout the three days of the trade show, the corporation will have a booth in the main pavilion at ExpoNaval. The space will serve as a commercial and technological showcase to demonstrate the impact of dual innovation on-site, with the active participation of companies from the domestic industry and winning teams from the Desafío Avante program.
Founded in 2019 as Latin America’s first open innovation platform for defense, Avante has helped transform scientific research and development into solutions with naval validation and high commercial value in productive sectors such as mining, aquaculture, and logistics. Internationally recognized success stories such as Acústica Marina (hydroacoustic monitoring), Jaksol and Mine Analytics (predictive maintenance and software for shipyards), the Moderniza Innovation Center (cost management and control for shipbuilding), and Bosses SpA (hybrid propulsion) underscore 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 seeks to establish a model of cooperation that reduces barriers to entry for defense projects and strengthens the country’s manufacturing autonomy.
For more information, visit: https://dualhub.cl/summit-exponaval-2026