A2M2TECH Project Newsletter – Issue 1
Coordinator’s Message
It is my great pleasure to share with you the first newsletter of the A2M2TECH project. Over the past two years, we have made significant progress in establishing our doctoral program, recruiting talented Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), and building a strong international training and collaboration platform. This newsletter highlights the activities, achievements, and challenges that shaped the early phase of our journey.
About the Project
A2M2TECH – Advanced Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies is an MSCA-COFUND program (Grant Agreement No: 101034425), hosted at Gazi University (Türkiye) and supported by TÜBİTAK 2236-B. The project aims to train 22 ESRs in the fields of additive manufacturing, advanced materials, simulation, and design engineering, equipping them with the skills and experiences needed for academic, industrial, and entrepreneurial careers.
Recruitment & ESR Status
- A dedicated A2M2TECH website was launched in 2021, receiving 291 profiles from 31 countries.
- After eligibility checks and evaluations, 22 ESRs were selected.
- 21 ESRs arrived in Türkiye and registered at their host universities (GU, METU, ITU, IZTECH).
- Due to academic and personal reasons, the project continues with 19 ESRs.
- As of May 2023, 4 ESRs successfully passed PhD qualifying exams, and others are in progress.
Training & Summer Schools
Summer School 2022 (Urla, İzmir): Introduced Flow3D and Simufact training by industrial partners (ONATUS, IOG).
- Powder characterization and particle size/shape analysis (ATS Elektronik, 2023).
- Hands-on SLM and EBM training on EKTAM’s 3D metal printers (Level-1).
Weekly Research Seminars: ESRs presented their progress and exchanged feedback with supervisors.
Scientific Highlights
- Publications: 4 peer-reviewed journal papers published; 7 review papers under preparation.
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Research Areas:
- LPBF and EBM studies with AlSi10Mg and Ti6Al4V.
- Corrosion and coating tests on AM AlSi10Mg.
- Mathematical models developed in COMSOL, Ansys, and Abaqus.
- LS-DYNA simulations on crushing behavior of AM parts.
- Robotics/control codes developed in Matlab and Python.
- Exploratory work on functionally graded materials and alloy design.
- Innovation: Patent-oriented studies are ongoing in redesigning SLM energy sources.
Secondments & Collaborations
- Secondments planned with FIT Additive (Germany), SDU (Denmark), UC3M (Spain), ERMAKSAN (Türkiye), TUSAŞ Aerospace (Türkiye).
- Additional industrial partners such as GE Germany and FNSS Türkiye have expressed interest.
- Mobility logistics (visa, travel, budget) are being coordinated with ESRs’ supervisors and project partners.
Dissemination & Outreach
- A2M2TECH Website & Logo launched: www.a2m2tech.org.tr.
- Open Call published on EURAXESS, FindPhD, AWIS, and academic platforms.
- ESRs encouraged to act as science communicators through social media and conferences.
- Project visibility ensured at ASTM ICAM, MCAA events, and European Commission platforms.
Ethics & Data Management
- Data Management Plans (DMPs) prepared for each ESR project (20 total).
- Ethics evaluations completed by GU, METU, ITU, IZTECH committees.
- All ESR research complies with EU and national ethical standards.
Impact & Outlook
Strengthening Türkiye’s global AM position: Gazi University (EKTAM), ITU, and METU ranked top in national additive manufacturing publications.
ESRs are being trained to combine scientific excellence, interdisciplinary skills, and industrial exposure to enhance employability and innovation.
Moving forward, the focus will shift towards research intensification, international secondments, and higher publication output.