Framatome – Pioneering Innovation in Additive Manufacturing
Framatome, a global leader in nuclear reactor technology, is at the forefront of modernising critical industrial processes. With a sharp focus on additive manufacturing (AM) and intelligent data management, the company set out to enhance repeatability, reproducibility, and reliability across its operations, especially in nuclear and aerospace sectors, where precision is paramount.
Partnering with Novable, Framatome’s Nuclear Industrial Innovation Hub (NIIH) embarked on a mission to source cutting-edge solutions in the AM space, culminating in a highly successful Booster Day event. Held on November 8th at the Framatome HQ in Paris, this exclusive gathering brought together high-level decision-makers and top-tier European innovators with a focus on AM solutions in digital thread and predictive analytics.
Here’s how Novable’s unique scouting approach helped Framatome exceed its expectations and set the stage for a transformative collaboration.
[The Challenge] - Sourcing Cutting-Edge Additive Manufacturing Innovations
Framatome’s goals were ambitious. To stay at the forefront of additive manufacturing, it required solutions addressing:
- Workflow optimisation and cost reduction. Tools that streamline AM processes from design to material output, lowering costs and production times.
- Consistency and quality assurance. Systems that standardise comparisons across tools, ensuring dependable quality control, which is vital in high-stakes industries.
- Predictive analytics for product quality: advanced analytics to assess and predict product quality early, aiming to reduce inspection costs and mitigate uncertainties.
Framatome sought European companies, particularly small and innovative firms, that could provide solutions to these challenges. For this, they needed an efficient and agile process, capable of accurately identifying companies aligned with these goals.
[The Solution] - A Tailored Scouting Process
Novable designed a tailored approach to source the right AM innovators. The collaboration began with a comprehensive briefing session, enabling Novable to gain a nuanced understanding of Framatome’s unique requirements. Following, Novable launched four distinct Scouting Campaigns, each targeting specific needs in additive manufacturing.
Major steps:
- Novable scanned the European AM landscape, identifying 135 companies that aligned with Framatome’s objectives. Of these, 60 companies were a perfect fit, yielding a 44% matching rate—demonstrating the effectiveness of the human-validation approach.
- The second part was to contact 40 out of the 60 Companies and convince them to participate in the Booster day.
Instead of relying solely on data, the team conducted personal outreach (set up calls and follow- ups), contacting 40 high-potential companies to ensure each match met the technical criteria. Framatome highly valued this human-centric approach because it ensured the selected startups genuinely aligned with their goals.
“Having a partner caring for the success of the project, daring to challenge and taking on responsibilities made a real difference. We can say that it was a success, and we received a lot of feedback on the quality of the participating companies”, Géraldine Doat, Corporate Innovation Manager.
- Novable’s efforts led to 30 successful applications from engaged companies, who responded and filled up a RFI with deep dive questions about their offering, exceeding Framatome’s initial expectations.
After a rigorous selection process, Framatome invited 10 companies to participate in the Booster Day event in Paris, allowing them to showcase their solutions in person.
A Successful Booster Day
Held on November 8 at Framatome’s HQ in Paris, Framatome’s Booster Day served as a unique platform where high-level decision-makers, key industrial partners, and innovative startups converged to explore the future of additive manufacturing. Major French companies, as well as strategic partners like Orano, CEA, VTT, and Thales, attended, each bringing their own perspectives on the industry’s pressing challenges.
Startups showcased solutions with a strong focus on Framatome’s ambition to move from a linear to an intelligent data management system. The innovations presented highlighted digital thread capabilities that offered Framatome and its partners ways to improve data flow, enhance quality consistency, and optimise processes.
The collaboration between Framatome and Novable illustrates the power of targeted Innovation Scouting in meeting complex industrial needs. This reaffirms that with the right strategic approach and collaborative spirit, transformative innovation is achievable—and it paves the way for Framatome to stay ahead in a competitive global market.
