Advanced Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Project Information

A2M2TECH

Grant agreement ID: 101034425

DOI

10.3030/101034425

Project closed

EC signature date 8 April 2021

Start date 1 June 2021

End date 31 May 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 4 773 120,00

EU contribution

€ 2 386 560,00

Coordinated by

GAZI UNIVERSITESI
Türkiye

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - A2M2TECH (Advanced Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies)

Reporting period: 2021-06-01 to 2023-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The aim of A2M2TECH is to deliver an interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international excellence doctoral training program in all aspects of advanced manufacturing and advanced materials, with a major focus on additive manufacturing and related technologies. 22 Ph.D. candidates, called early-stage researchers (ESRs) started working under the project. The program is led by Gazi University (GU) in Türkiye and coordinated through the Additive Manufacturing Technologies Application and Research Center (EKTAM- ektam.gazi.edu.tr/view/Index) a National Center of Excellence for Additive Manufacturing. In addition to GU (13 ESRs), there are 3 other reputable Turkish universities as Partner Organizations namely; Middle East Technical University (METU) (4 ESRs), Istanbul Technical University (ITU) (3 ESRs), and Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) (2 ESRsThe program is cofounded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and the European Commission.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

After PMT was established, Open Call was prepared and the A2M2TECH dedicated website was created. 291 profiles were created, from 31 different countries, on our project website (www.a2m2tech.org.tr). 79 applications out of 291 passed the eligibility check. SEC and Interview Panel Members were selected. 22 ESRs were selected as a result of the selection process. 20 out of 22 ESRs completed their paperwork and arrived in Türkiye. One of them could not come to Türkiye because he could not obtain the necessary permissions to leave Pakistan. Another one joined us with a delay as the process of obtaining a Türkiye visa was prolonged. ESRs who started taking the selected courses at their hosting institutions and their details were uploaded into the portal. After the ESRs settled in Türkiye and started taking their Ph.D. courses,1 ESR failed to pass some of the courses and was dismissed by the Middle East Technical University (ParyaTeymoory, ESR 16). We continued with 20 ESRs. In May 2023, one of the ESRs; namely Abid Ullah - ESR 12, left Türkiye and the project without any permission. Also, ESR 13, KashifAzher, resigned on the morning of 21 August 2023 and left the project due to family problems. Therefore, now we have 18 ESRs recruited.

Detail of the Work Performed
Establishment of A2M2TECH Designated Website
A comprehensive and dynamic website was designed, finalized, and has been in use. Profiles and applications were made/collected through the special “Application Form” generated.
The website address is: www.a2m2tech.org.tr
In line with our principle, as published on our website, a job ad/open call was posted in the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) with a view to encouraging female researchers. Similarly, the same job ad was posted on “Find a Ph.D. website (www.findaphd.com)” without any gender discrimination. 54 applications were received from female applicants. Only 2 of them were included in the 44 best-ranked applications. 1 female applicant rejected our offer after being selected. Additional information is given below.
Open Call & Job Alert were published in EURAXESS and on the website as reported in the delivery reports. Social media where the A2M2TECH project was published: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and YouTube. The A2M2TECH introduction video link was also published on our YouTube channel.
Job alert was also published on the Find a Ph.D. website.
Information on the project was also published on the hosting Institutions’ websites.
Launch Event took place on 21 September 2021 Media: On-line / Microsoft Teams meeting. Details of the event were provided in the deliverable report.
Dissemination Tools/Materials Created
To disseminate A2M2TECH to target groups, a specific flyer and a brochure were designed and produced. Copies of those materials were shared in the relevant deliverable report.
SEC and Interview Evaluation Processes were conducted as exactly outlined in the GA and reported in the relevant delivery report.
There was only 1 redress case and it was reported in the Deliverable report D2.1.
Selection Process & Information on Applicants’ Decisions
In line with the GA, the 22 best-ranked applicants were first listed. There were some applicants who were included in the first 22 best-ranked applications but turned down our offer for personal reasons (this was explained in Deliverable D2.1 in detail). For those empty slots, the reserved list was used.
Recruitment Report/Status
Information on the number of profiles created, eligible applications, and so on was given in the relevant delivery report.
Information about the recent status of the ESRs; how many of them have already completed their PhD courses, how many of them have passed the PhD qualifying exam, was given in the Periodic Report 1.
Scientific Highlights of the Work So Far were given/shared in the Periodic Report 1.
Training
As also reported in the Periodic Report 1, several training activities were organized for ESRs.
Mobility
Until now, 1 summer school took place in Urla/İzmir. It was a very fruitful event, details of which were shared/covered in the deliverable report.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Expected Results of the A2M2TECH Project from the Training Point of View
Each recruited fellow has been informed of the compulsory training activities through online and face-to-face events. Some of those activities already took place and some of them will be organized. Those activities have been agreed upon and included in the PCDPs of the ESRs.
Expected Results of Dissemination, Communication & Public Engagement Activities:
The KPIs, as stipulated in the GA, have been communicated to the ESRs and the necessary actions will be taken to meet the requirements.
Expected social impacts will be to strengthen the existing collaborations of the partners with media, industry, local schools, and universities, and provide the recruited ESRs with a central and active role in communicating/engaging with specific, and non-specialist target groups.
The Expected Results of Using the Designated Website of the A2M2TECH
Our website was effectively used during the dissemination and collection of the applications. The ESRs are now expected to use the designated website to disseminate the results of their research.

The Expected Results of Planned Dissemination Activities:
Below is the list of planned activities to enhance the social impact of the A2M2TECH project;
EU Platforms: Periodic project announcements in relevant platforms (MSCA, MCCAA, etc.) will be made to promote project results and interact with peers.
A2M2TECH Open Day: An “Open Day” will be organized to share the project outcomes.
Q&A Webinars: A Q&A webinar will be organized for each ESR.
Public Talks: ESRs and supervisors will be engaged in public talks.
An exhibition will be organized to showcase the A2M2TECH project and research in people’s daily lives and its impact and relevance in terms of local economic development, innovation, and sustainability.
The results and outcomes of the A2M2TECH project will be shared via science popularization articles.
Social Media Interaction is also being planned.
A blog section will be created within the website of the project.
ESRs will be engaged as fellow researchers at the MCCA Association and will attend some of the MCAA-organized events to draw attention to their project results and network with peers outside the partnership to encourage multidisciplinary collaboration.

Flow3D Software Training

EU Cofund Contact Point Meeting Members Visiting A2M2TECH ESRs and Management

2022Summer School - IZTECH

Contract Signing Ceremony of the A2M2TECH Project

Complementary Powder Characterization Training

Simufact Software Training

ESRs and Supervisors-Cosupervisors Update Meeting

Additive Manufacturing in Türkiye

TÜBİTAK Director Meeting with A2M2TECH ESRs