2016-2017

News Release

REF NO.: 68

SUBJECT: Navantia signs agreement with Marine Institute

DATE: March 9, 2017

Spanish shipbuilding company Navanita and Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute, with the support of Memorial’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) enabling a framework for future collaboration in areas of research and development, education and training.

Specifically, the agreement opens a path for the exchange of faculty and students, including the development of an internship program for undergraduate engineering students in Spain. The student program will be open to those enrolled in the Marine Institute’s naval architecture and marine engineering systems design programs and the ocean engineering and naval architecture engineering program at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

The institute and Navantia will also work towards joint training and research activities.

“This is an excellent opportunity for faculty, staff and students at the Marine Institute and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science to work with a world-class shipbuilding company, and will give them access to expertise built upon years of experience,” said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president, Memorial University (Marine Institute).

Internationally renowned for its ship design, construction and integration of all types of naval ships, Navantia has established agreements with technological and strategy partners such as Lockheed Martin as well as joint ventures with local shipyards to build vessels in other countries. The company’s main customer is the Spanish navy, a collaboration that dates back 250 years.

Navantia has signed similar agreements with Spanish and Australian universities, which ultimately generated key research and development projects and provided the opportunity for exchange students via scholarship programs.

“We are proud to engage with one of the most prestigious Canadian universities in the maritime world,” said Emiliano Matesanz, senior business development manager, Canada. “The memorandum of understanding is a key component of Navantia’s local value development aimed at strengthening commitments to Canada and specifically to Canadian universities.”

The MOU comes at a time when Canada is preparing to design and construct new naval ships to ensure that the Canadian Forces can continue to monitor and defend Canadian waters and make significant contributions to international naval operations with its allies.

Navantia is renowned for the design, construction and integration of state-of-the-art war ships, as well as ship repairs and modernizations. It is also engaged in the design and manufacture of Integrated platform management systems, fire control systems, command and control systems and propulsion plants. Even though its main line of activity is in the naval field, Navantia designs and manufactures systems for the army and the air force.

Navantia is part of Grupo SEPI, a corporate holding which includes a total of 15 state-owned companies in which it has direct, majority shareholding participations, with a workforce of more than 73,000 professionals in 2015; the Spanish state-owned television and radio corporation, Corporación Radiotelevisión Española, which is attached to SEPI, and one public foundation. Equally, SEPI has direct minority shareholdings in a further nine companies, and indirect shareholdings in more than 100 companies.

- 30 -