Researcher exchange programme introduces material processing technologies for a sustainable future
The development of new energy-efficient, environment-friendly and cost-effective material processing technologies for the manufacturing of high value products is key to the sustained economic growth of Europe. The EU-funded MATPROFUTURE (New material processing technologies for sustainable future) project established new research links and developed new material processing technologies through extensive research staff exchange and knowledge transfer activities between leading universities in China and Europe. In total, 113 experienced researchers and early-stage researchers (ESRs) participated in 299 person-months of staff exchange and secondments between partner institutions equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. Several activities were carried out to facilitate the exchange of experienced staff and talented young researchers in the transfer of knowledge and skills. These included seminars, workshops, summer schools and high-profile conferences. Two special sessions at international conferences on sheet metal and new forming technologies, six summer schools and research seminars were organised. Staff secondment and dissemination activities helped to strengthen existing research projects and develop new research activities and initiatives. To this end, 54 journal papers were published and 19 presentations given at international conferences with a number of more papers submitted for considered for publication. Significant progress was made in training ESRs and disseminating research outcomes in five focused research areas. These are new sheet forming processes, precision forging, integrated joining and forming, novel spinning and new hydroforming processes. By assembling a critical mass of researchers, MATPROFUTURE further strengthened established links and created an ideal platform for long-term collaboration in the emerging field of new and high-value materials processing and forming technologies. Sustainable manufacturing is vital to the EU economy’s continued success and competitiveness, and for the realisation of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as a key objective of the Europe 2020 strategy.
Keywords
Material processing technologies, sustainable manufacturing, MATPROFUTURE, forming technologies
