MatCap: Capacity building within materials for the defense of the future - Introduction
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Denmark is building strategic technological capacity within advanced materials, repair technologies, and biomanufacturing for the defense sector. The MatCap project brings together leading research and technology institutes to strengthen national security of supply and operational resilience.
The challenge: Increased need for security of supply and on-site capacity
Modern defense and changing security policy conditions place significantly higher demands on supply chains, resilience, and logistics. Traditional logistics chains are vulnerable to disruptions, long lead times, and global shortages of specialized spare parts. At the same time, an urgent need is emerging for rapid repair close to the field, as well as the development of new, robust materials and biological production methods that can function in forward-deployed and isolated environments.
Without a coordinated knowledge base and systematic technology maturation, Danish industry and the Danish Armed Forces risk falling behind relative to international alliances. Therefore, there is a need to gather national core competencies and establish tangible technological demonstrators that can be directly integrated into the operational reality of the Armed Forces.
The solution: Cross-disciplinary capacity building across two strategic tracks
MatCap (Capacity Building within Materials) establishes a cross-disciplinary platform that links advanced research directly with the needs of the Armed Forces and industrial capacities. The project operates within two focused technology tracks:
DEDCap (Direct Energy Deposition): Development of mobile repair procedures, additive manufacturing (3D printing) of metallic components, and multi-material strategies for on-site maintenance and reinforcement.
BioCap (Biomanufacturing): Identification and establishment of national capacity within biological production close to the area of application (Forward-Deployed Biomanufacturing - FDBM) for the production of critical bio-based materials, food, or non-medical supplies for countermeasures.
Danish Technological Institute's role
Danish Technological Institute acts as the overall project manager and coordinator for MatCap. The institute ensures the bridge-building between high-tech laboratory development and practical industrial testing:
Overall Project Management: Ensuring strategic coordination in close collaboration with NFC (National Defence Technology Centre) and DDMC.
Strategic Advisory Services: Preparation of technology roadmaps and assessment of requirements for developed solutions.
Anchoring and Knowledge Sharing: Establishment of networks so that technologies are made accessible to the defense industry and SMEs.
Expected results and value creation
National Task Force and Roadmaps: Establishment of clear roadmaps for both metallic repair and defense biotechnology in Denmark.
Tangible Demonstrators: Selection and maturation of technological proof-of-concept components ready for testing in operational environments.
International Positioning: Strengthened Danish positioning within NATO (including NATO-STO), the EU (the European Defence Fund - EDF), and innovation initiatives such as DENWERX.
Industrial Consortia: Basis for 1-2 new applications for further development and scale-up funded by national and international funds.
Project facts
Official title: Kapacitetsopbygning på Materialeområdet MatCap (Capacity Building within Materials MatCap)
Program: NFC's Research Program and Capacity Building Projects 2025
Project period: October 2025 - April 2027
Total budget: DKK 1,500,000
Platform: New Materials and Maintenance
Consortium and partners
Danish Technological Institute (DTI): Overall project manager, DED development, material design and roadmap, competency mapping, and biological demonstrators.
DTU Biosustain: Competency mapping and biological demonstrators.
FORCE Technology: Technical leadership of large-scale DED, rapid repair procedures, and component demonstration.
Associated Stakeholders: Close coordination with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO/FMI), NATO-STO, and DENWERX.
Contact and participation
Would your company like to learn more about the results, participate in knowledge sharing, or take part in upcoming demonstration projects? Contact Business Manager, PhD, and Project Manager, Ellen Hedegaard.