3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to develop additive manufacturing technologies for energy and national security applications, according to a company statement released Aug. 27, 2026.

The agreement centers on SRNL's Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, which opened in August 2025. Under the CRADA, the two organizations will work jointly on materials development, equipment enhancements, artificial intelligence and machine learning process optimization, cybersecurity, and workforce training.

A primary focus of the collaboration is applying 3D printing to nuclear energy components, including heat exchangers, reactor internals, pumps, and valves made from high-temperature nickel-based superalloys and radiation-tolerant materials. The partnership also targets broader energy infrastructure and national security applications.

3D Systems equipment has already been installed at the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility, which is located on a public university campus in South Carolina and is the only national laboratory-operated site in the state.

"This agreement demonstrates the impact and importance of high-quality 3D printing materials and technologies on key industrial markets, particularly energy and national security, and on developing the skilled workforce those markets require," said Jeff Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems.

Roderick Jackson, associate laboratory director for science, energy and innovation at SRNL, said the collaboration aims to "strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness" through additive manufacturing technologies.

The CRADA is structured to create a pathway from research to technology transfer and commercial application, with the partners targeting scalable manufacturing solutions for nuclear energy, aerospace and defense, and environmental technologies. The agreement also includes workforce development components aimed at training engineers, scientists, and technicians in advanced manufacturing.

SRNL is managed by Battelle Savannah River Alliance for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management.