• The centre, which will be led by the University of Cyprus and funded by the European Union, will involve partners from host nation Cyprus, Norway, Switzerland and Spain.
• Its focus will be on facilitating knowledge transfer related to processing methodologies and characterisation techniques of additively manufactured aluminium-based Metal Matrix Composites (Al-MMCs).

Additive manufacturing is revolutionising aerospace by enabling the decentralisation of production and the use of innovative material designs.

In order to accelerate R&D and knowledge transfer in this sector, the University of Cyprus (UCY) will establish an Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Competence Centre (AM2C3) in Cyprus.

The ambitious international collaboration will call on the wide-ranging expertise of UCY, Norway’s Foundation of Industrial and Technical Research (SINTEF), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) and IMDEA Materials Institute.

By advancing expertise in areas like Al-MMCs, which offer exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, AM2C3 seeks to address the aerospace industry’s growing demand for low-volume, high-value applications.

Dr. María Teresa Pérez-Prado, leader of IMDEA Materials’ Sustainable Metallurgy Research Group, will spearhead the Institute’s contributions to the project.

IMDEA Materials will work closely with UCY researchers to transfer knowledge, provide training, and support the development of advanced processing methodologies and characterisation techniques for Al-MMCs produced via additive manufacturing.

“We are very excited to participate in this project, which will widen IMDEA Materials Institute’s network in advanced manufacturing technologies,” underscored Dr. Pérez-Prado.

The Institute’s expertise in advanced materials research and sustainability will play a critical role in equipping UCY researchers with cutting-edge skills and access to sophisticated equipment. The partnership will also host staff exchanges, fostering cross-institutional collaboration and innovation.

AM2C3 will also support the development of intellectual property frameworks as well as an ecosystem for ongoing collaboration, ensuring its benefits endure well beyond the three-year funding period.

IMDEA Materials’ contribution to this transformative initiative reinforces its commitment to advancing sustainable metallurgy and fostering global collaborations in cutting-edge technologies.

You can follow the AM2C3 project on LinkedIn, here.

The AM2C3 project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Twinning Call under grant agreement number 101159727. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.