Project description
Smarter design for lighter, more sustainable 3D-printed parts
Rapid prototyping and on-demand manufacturing are two advantages of additive manufacturing, which can decrease the time required for manufacturing processes and reduces the need for large-scale inventory management. Manufacturing parts without using any tooling or moulds is possible in the additive manufacturing process. With this in mind, the ERC-funded Concept-AM project aims to create an integrated software system for the optimal design of parts using the 3D printing process. Inspired by efficient structures found in nature, the project will create tools that automatically generate lightweight, high-performance and resource-efficient components through advanced topology optimisation and seamless design-to-print workflows. Concept-AM could pave the way for more sustainable production across a wide range of sectors.
Objective
Additive manufacturing (AM) offers unprecedented potential to produce complex, lightweight, and optimised components. Yet industrial design is dominated by paradigms developed for traditional manufacturing, leading industries to “print” conventional designs rather than exploit AM’s full potential. The result is excessive material use, high energy demand, and suboptimal performance.
To address this, Concept-AM introduces a new paradigm: Design Optimisation for Additive Manufacturing (DOfAM). This fully integrated software environment will guide designs from initial concept to AM-ready output. Building on insights from my ERC project, Concept-AM translates nature’s design principles, which produce efficient and resilient structures across the natural world, into practical, industry-ready tools for AM that will deliver structurally optimised, lightweight components that outperform conventional parts. Technical developments during the Concept-AM project will target code migration, algorithm development, and deployment of graphical user interfaces and workflows. The resulting integrated Concept-AM environment will enable (i) automated generation of functionally graded porous structures, (ii) in-situ topology optimisation using biomimetic principles, and (iii) seamless design-to-print integration with AM-specific constraints.
The commercialisation pathway for Concept-AM focuses on licensing an integrated IP package to established CAD/AM vendors through development of a spinout-ready business case, while retaining an open-source base to drive adoption and community engagement. For industry, Concept-AM will offer a one-stop platform to create lighter, stronger, and more cost-effective components. For society, it reduces material and energy consumption, setting a new standard for sustainable AM. By uniting design, optimisation, and manufacturing, Concept-AM eliminates fragmentation, speeds adoption, and unlocks AM’s potential for scalable, sustainable production.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
H91 Galway
Ireland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.