Among the most innovative manufacturing solutions of the last decade, additive manufacturing technologies have been identified as one of the most promising production technologies globally for its ability to speed up innovation and mitigate supply chain disruption. Europe, on both a political and industrial level, possesses potential to become a world leader in the development and deployment of these technologies. in Europe there are currently world-class machine builders, material providers, service bureaus, business model developers, etc., operating at a global level, along with reputable universities and research centres. There is also a clear need to develop a ‘talent-pipeline’ of expert researchers to enable the growth of an AM based economy in Europe. European research leadership in this sector has been heavily promoted and the European Commission has been a pioneer in developing AM by providing funding in this area, with more than 60 EU-funded projects in AM, with a combined budget of more than €225 million. Despite this enormous investment, none of these projects focussed on manufacturing applications of biopolymers (outside the health sector). Industries are looking to make investments in AM printing equipment, materials, or products; in order to sustain further development of these technologies, this should be supported with the investment in appropriate skills. Thus, DeMANS centres on the development of methods and demonstrators of AM in the manufacture of advanced components from sustainable polymers, while simultaneously training the AM experts of the future.
