Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects
This professional diploma prepares you to lead the transformation of the maritime sector. You will learn to identify innovation opportunities, manage cutting-edge projects and apply emerging technologies to the design, construction and operation of vessels, from digital twins, IoT and artificial intelligence to autonomous systems and hybrid propulsion, and to take solutions from prototype to validated, fundable and scalable products.
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What is the Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects?
This professional diploma prepares you to turn technological ideas into viable naval solutions. You will learn how incremental, disruptive and digital innovation differ, how the naval innovation ecosystem of shipyards, shipowners, engineering firms, ports, research centers and regulators works, how predictive, agile, hybrid and prototype-based project methods are applied, how CAD, naval BIM, digital twins, shipyard robotics, additive manufacturing, IoT, AI, autonomous vessels and hybrid propulsion are integrated, how prototypes are tested in the laboratory, in port and at sea, and how funding, intellectual property, technology transfer, regulation and change management shape successful adoption.
What sets this professional diploma apart: a project-management approach adapted to the technical and regulatory uncertainty of the naval sector; a broad view of emerging technologies across design, construction and operation; a structured path from prototype to sea trials and acceptance by classification societies; attention to funding, intellectual property and business models, which decide whether innovation reaches the market; an in-depth structure of eight modules; and a final project in which you design, assess for technology readiness and defend an innovation of your own.
Program highlights
- Innovation strategy: trends, ecosystem and opportunity mapping in the naval sector.
- Project methods: agile, hybrid and prototype-based management, design thinking and lean startup.
- Emerging technologies: digital twins, IoT, AI, autonomy, shipyard robotics and hybrid propulsion.
- Prototyping and validation: bench, port and sea trials and dealings with classification societies.
- Funding and IP: R&D programs, patents, technology transfer and business models.
- Final project: an innovation proposal with TRL assessment and a technical defense.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of naval technology innovation and the transformation of the maritime sector
- 1.1. Key concepts of naval innovation and the differences between incremental improvement, disruptive innovation, digital transformation and applied technology development
- 1.2. The evolution of naval technology and current trends in automation, sustainability, energy efficiency and maritime digitalization
- 1.3. The naval innovation ecosystem: shipyards, shipowners, engineering firms, ports, research centers and academia, startups, suppliers and regulators
- 1.4. Identifying innovation opportunities in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and management of vessels
- 1.5. The relationship between innovation, competitiveness, safety, sustainability and operational efficiency in the naval sector
- 1.6. Technical, economic, regulatory and organizational risks in naval technology projects
- 1.7. Building a strategic vision to drive applied innovation in maritime and naval environments
- 1.8. Technology trend maps and horizon scanning in the naval sector
Naval technology project management and innovation methodologies
- 2.1. The life cycle of a naval innovation project from the initial idea to operational implementation
- 2.2. Project management methodologies applied to naval technology: predictive, agile, hybrid and prototype-based approaches
- 2.3. Design thinking, lean startup, early validation and iterative development of maritime solutions
- 2.4. Defining scope, objectives, deliverables, resources, schedule, budget and project success criteria
- 2.5. Managing risk, technological uncertainty, design changes and decision-making in innovative projects
- 2.6. Coordinating multidisciplinary teams across engineering, operations, business, regulation and end users
- 2.7. Building project plans that turn technological ideas into viable naval solutions
- 2.8. Project portfolio management and prioritization of innovation initiatives
Emerging technologies applied to naval design, construction and operation
- 3.1. Digitalizing naval design through advanced CAD, naval BIM, digital twins and systems simulation
- 3.2. Shipyard automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, smart cutting, automated welding and digital quality control
- 3.3. IoT sensors, remote monitoring, telemetry, predictive maintenance and smart management of naval assets
- 3.4. Artificial intelligence applied to route optimization, fault diagnosis, energy efficiency and operational decision support
- 3.5. Autonomous systems, assisted navigation, remote control, maritime drones and uncrewed vessels
- 3.6. Alternative energy, hybrid propulsion, electrification, energy storage and emissions reduction on vessels
- 3.7. Integrating emerging technologies into safe, scalable and sustainable naval solutions
- 3.8. Digital twins applied to the ship life cycle
Solution development, prototyping, technical validation and testing in the naval environment
- 4.1. Conceptual design of naval technology solutions and definition of functional, technical and operational requirements
- 4.2. Physical, digital and functional prototyping to validate concepts before full implementation
- 4.3. Laboratory tests, test benches, simulation, harbor trials and sea trials
- 4.4. Performance validation using indicators of safety, efficiency, reliability, consumption, availability and usability
- 4.5. Managing failures, design iterations, user feedback and prototype adjustments
- 4.6. Technical documentation of tests, results, deviations, improvements and acceptance criteria
- 4.7. Building validation processes that reduce uncertainty and increase the technology maturity of the naval solution
- 4.8. Approval of new technologies by classification societies
Funding, intellectual property, technology transfer and naval business models
- 5.1. Funding sources for naval innovation: public funds, private investment, R&D programs, industrial alliances and European funding
- 5.2. Preparing innovation proposals: technical justification, expected impact, budget and return on investment
- 5.3. Intellectual property: patents, utility models, trade secrets, software rights and protection of naval designs
- 5.4. Technology transfer between research centers, shipyards, companies, ports and maritime operators
- 5.5. Business models for naval solutions: product sales, technology services, subscription, maintenance, data and digital platforms
- 5.6. Commercialization strategies, scalability, market adoption and collaboration with pilot customers
- 5.7. Building value propositions that connect technological innovation, economic viability and the real needs of the naval sector
- 5.8. European funding programs for maritime innovation (Horizon Europe and others)
Regulation, sustainability, safety and change management in naval innovation
- 6.1. Regulatory framework for new naval technologies: certification, classification, maritime safety and technical compliance
- 6.2. Environmental impact assessment, emissions reduction, circular economy and sustainability in naval technology projects
- 6.3. Operational safety, cybersecurity, data protection and risk management in digital or automated solutions
- 6.4. Regulatory acceptance, conformity testing, technical documentation and relations with classification societies
- 6.5. Organizational change management, user training, technology adoption and internal resistance
- 6.6. ESG indicators, social impact, skilled employment and the contribution of naval innovation to the blue economy
- 6.7. Building responsible implementation strategies that integrate compliance, safety, sustainability and organizational culture
- 6.8. Life-cycle analysis and environmental footprint of innovative solutions
Scaling, operational implementation and management of naval innovation portfolios
- 7.1. Strategies for moving from prototype to operational solution, commercial product or fleet deployment
- 7.2. Managing naval innovation portfolios by prioritizing projects, resources, risks and expected benefits
- 7.3. Integrating innovative solutions into shipyards, vessels, ports, control centers and maritime supply chains
- 7.4. Measuring results with KPIs for efficiency, safety, sustainability, cost reduction and improved availability
- 7.5. Managing strategic alliances, technology consortia, specialist suppliers and maritime innovation networks
- 7.6. Continuous improvement, organizational learning and technology updates throughout the innovation life cycle
- 7.7. Developing technology roadmaps to strengthen competitiveness and leadership in the naval sector
- 7.8. Knowledge management and lessons learned in innovation projects
Final Project
- 8.1. Defining the innovation case: digital system, energy solution, automation, shipyard improvement, naval sensor, smart platform or onboard technology
- 8.2. Diagnosis of the problem, operational need, market opportunity, stakeholders and technical or regulatory constraints
- 8.3. Conceptual design of the solution with requirements, technology architecture, resources, schedule, budget and success criteria
- 8.4. Developing the plan for prototyping, testing, technical validation, documentation and project risk management
- 8.5. Preparing the business model, funding strategy, intellectual property protection, scalability and adoption in the naval market
- 8.6. Writing the comprehensive technical report with technological, economic, regulatory, environmental and operational justification
- 8.7. Assessing the technology readiness level (TRL) of the proposed solution
- 8.8. Presentation and defense of the final project with strategic, technical and commercial validation of the proposed naval innovation
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Naval Technology Innovation Projects
The naval and maritime sector: shipyards, shipowners, engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, ports and technology startups.
On both. You learn the methods for managing innovation projects and the emerging technologies that are applied in naval design, construction and operation.
Advanced CAD and naval BIM, digital twins, shipyard robotics and additive manufacturing, IoT and predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, autonomous vessels, hybrid propulsion and energy storage.
Yes. The program covers testing, conformity documentation and the role of classification societies in accepting new technologies on board.
Yes, as subject matter. You study public and private funding sources, European programs such as Horizon Europe and how to prepare innovation proposals; the diploma does not itself provide funding.
You define a naval innovation, design the solution, plan its prototyping and validation, build its business model, assess its technology readiness level and defend it.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of 100 hours each and ends with a final project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Innovation and startups
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at naval engineers, naval architects and designers, project managers, heads of innovation and consultants working with shipyards and shipping companies, naval and defense professionals, entrepreneurs developing naval technology products and Industry 4.0 professionals moving into the maritime sector; a degree in engineering, physics, mathematics or a related field, or professional experience in the naval and technology sectors, is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone, a stable broadband connection and an up-to-date browser; some design or simulation tools may require additional specifications.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.