Gear power transmissions in 2026: Current challenges and future perspectives from France

In academia, research on gear units is increasingly focused on electrification, higher rotational speeds, lightweight architectures and stricter efficiency and acoustic constraints. Advanced multiphysics modelling now incorporates contact mechanics, structural flexibility, lubrication, thermal behaviour and electromechanical coupling. Significant advances have been made in the fields of dynamics, vibroacoustic, Rolling Contact Fatigue modelling and coupled power losses and thermal analyses. Furthermore, numerical tools facilitate analyses at the system-level as opposed to the component level. Within the industrial sector, transmissions are required to demonstrate an increase in power density, durability and efficiency with reduced noise, a requirement that is particularly pertinent in the context of electric transmissions. At the same time, manufacturing trends include enhanced precision, surface superfinishing, dry machining and full digitalisation with digital twins. Health monitoring is evolving towards hybrid strategies. Sustainability considerations now influence materials, lubrication strategies, eco-design, repairability and life cycle optimisation. In the field of education, transmission engineering remains fundamental. It is evolving towards systemic, multiphysical and digital approaches. Study programmes are increasingly incorporating tribology, Noise, Vibration & Harshness, thermal modelling, durability prediction, optimisation and data-based monitoring, alongside close links between research laboratories and industry. Digital skills, simulation tools and interdisciplinary training are becoming essential. Overall, far from being a mature or declining field, gear transmission engineering is undergoing a profound transformation. Its future is driven by high-speed electrified systems, integrated modelling, predictive maintenance, sustainable design and enhanced collaboration between research, industry and education.