Introduction
The CapTech Materials and Structures brings together experts from EU Member States, industry, and academia to advance defence technologies in materials and structural design. Its work covers lightweight solutions, high-performance materials, protection systems, advanced manufacturing and smart textiles – all key enablers for next-generation platforms and soldier systems.
By pooling knowledge and resources, CapTech Materials and Structures supports cross-industry collaboration, innovative projects and synergies within EU-funded research. This approach reduces duplication, strengthens interoperability, and supports Europe’s strategic autonomy, ensuring armed forces have resilient, high-performance capabilities for future operational challenges.
Technology Building Blocks
Technology Building Blocks (TBBs) define the main technological priorities of the CapTech. They guide the efforts to deliver advanced defence capabilities.
The CapTech Materials and Structures focuses on:
- Lightweight Structures: Reducing platform weight while maintaining strength and performance.
- Protection Against Military Threats: Advanced armour and protective materials for platforms and soldiers.
- High-Temperature Materials: Solutions for extreme thermal environments in propulsion and high-speed systems.
- Camouflage and Signature Management: Technologies to minimise detection across multiple ranges of electromagnetic spectrum – from visible to infrared.
- Emerging Materials: Exploring novel materials like composites, metamaterials, and graphene for future platforms.
- Structural Health Monitoring: From sensors or system logic, towards concepts for whole asset sustainment – cleverer maintenance for Integrated Logistics Support (ILS).
- Advanced Manufacturing and Repair: Innovative processes for new products and effective aftermarket services, including additive manufacturing.
- Surface Engineering: Coatings and treatments for durability in harsh conditions.
- Smart Textiles: Multifunctional fabrics for soldier systems and integrated sensing.
- Emerging Materials: Exploring novel technologies for future platforms e.g., functional, composite, or carbon-based materials.
- Computational Design and Modelling: Digital tools for optimised material performance and faster development cycles.
Together, these Technology Building Blocks ensure Europe’s defence platforms remain lighter, stronger, more resilient, and ready for future operational challenges.
Link to EDA’s capability domains
The CapTech Materials and Structures supports several EDA capability domains across all operational environments:
- Land: Advanced materials for armoured vehicles, soldier systems, and ground combat platforms.
- Air: Stealth surfaces, lightweight structures and high-temperature materials for aircraft and propulsion systems.
- Sea: Durable coatings, corrosion protection, and structural solutions for naval platforms.
- Space: High-performance materials for extreme conditions and long-life components.
- Cyber: Secure design concepts for structural health monitoring and data integrity in smart materials.
By contributing to these domains, the CapTech contributes to strengthening EU defence capabilities, interoperability, and resilience across land, air, maritime, space, and cyber operations.
Join the CapTech
The CapTech Materials and Structures meets two to three times per year. All information is shared via EDA’s online collaborative workspace. In addition to CapTech meetings, EDA organises workshops dedicated to specific topics to investigate areas and promote cooperation.
You can submit a request for membership to the CapTech moderator. The applications are subject to approval by the respective CapTech National Coordinator. The approval of the CNC is necessary for becoming a Governmental Expert (CGE) or non-Governmental Expert (CnGE), and for your participation in a CapTech event.