From September 15 to 17, INOV.AM Shaping Tomorrow brought together companies, researchers, experts, entities from the scientific and technological community, and institutional representatives in Leiria to mark the conclusion of the INOV.AM —Innovation in Additive Manufacturing Mobilizing Agenda, and to share the results of four years of work dedicated to research, innovation, and development in the field of additive manufacturing.

Held at the Miguel Franco Theater and the Sant’Ana Market, the event showcased various aspects of the work carried out throughout the agenda, highlighting the results achieved through collaboration among 73 entities, including companies, universities, and organizations from the scientific and technological community. Over the course of three days, the program covered a range of topics, from innovation and industry to the presentation of scientific and technological results and demonstrations of new products, materials, technologies, equipment, and solutions developed by the Agenda’s partners.

The program began with the INOV.AM Forum, dedicated to taking stock of the Innovation Agendas and assessing the impact of investment in innovation on the Portuguese economy and industry. Throughout the day, various stakeholders discussed the results achieved, the challenges encountered during the implementation of the Agendas, and the role of collaboration between companies and entities in the scientific and technological system in developing new solutions.

Among the Forum’s highlights was the panel “The PRR Effect on the Economy – Agendas PRR,” which brought together representatives from the INOV.AM, Packaging of the Future, Hi-REV, and AERO.NEXT Agendas. The program also included the panel “The Innovation Agendas: Vision vs. Result,” featuring António Costa Silva, former Minister of Economy and author of the National Economic Recovery Plan, and Pedro Dominguinhos, Chair of the National PRR Monitoring Commission, dedicated to analyzing the progress and results of the Innovation Agendas.

The panel “Design for Advanced Manufacturing” was another highlight, bringing together representatives from ULO-LIDA, EAAD-UMINHO, the Advanced Design Laboratory, and INNGAGE for a discussion focused on the relationship between design, technological innovation, and industrial application, as well as on the development of technologies and materials capable of meeting the needs of new products and processes. The program also included the panel “Development for the Industry of the Future”, which brought together representatives from DNC Técnica, Campotec, LCR Perfis, and AGIX to discuss how the technologies and materials of the future can address design challenges.

On September 16 and 17, INOV.AM Shaping Tomorrow hosted the second edition of the INOV.AM International Conference, which brought together national and international researchers and experts to present scientific and technological work and findings developed in various areas of additive manufacturing.

The scientific program was organized around six thematic areas: Hybrid Molds, Materials for Additive Manufacturing, Hybrid Products, Hybrid Manufacturing Systems, Additive Manufacturing Systems, and Digital Tools for Additive Manufacturing.

Over the course of the two days, papers and results related to new materials, processes, and manufacturing systems were presented, including solutions for polymers, metals, ceramics, and cements, as well as digital tools, monitoring and control systems, and various applications of additive manufacturing, through oral presentations and poster sessions.

The conference featured three keynote speakers: Geoffrey Mitchell, an expert in polymer science and additive manufacturing; Mathilde Marengo, an architect and researcher in the field of emerging technologies applied to design, and Director of Operations and Innovation Partnerships at External Reference; and Jorge Lino, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and a researcher in the fields of product development and additive manufacturing.

Among the papers presented, two were honored with the awards for Best Oral Presentation and Best Poster. The Best Oral Presentation award was given to the paper “Additive Manufacturing of Cold-Work Tool Steels: Addressing Crack Susceptibility in High-Carbon Steels,” while the Best Poster award went to the paper “Development of Self-Lubricating FeCrMnAlTi-CaF2 High-Entropy Alloys for Selective Laser Melting.”

The event was complemented by a Technology Exhibition, which showcased products, materials, equipment, and solutions developed under the Agenda. Organized into different sections, the exhibition featured solutions related to bioproducts, ceramics, polymers, natural materials, metals, and cements, as well as digital systems, innovation, and sustainability.

Throughout the INOV.AM Agenda, the 73 participating entities worked together to develop skills and solutions in additive manufacturing. The work carried out encompassed new materials, products, and systems; advanced processes; digital solutions; equipment; and training and capacity-building activities. Collaboration between companies and entities in the scientific and technological sector helped bridge the gap between knowledge and industrial needs, creating the conditions for developing new solutions and strengthening the capabilities of the organizations involved.

The conclusion of the INOV.AM Agenda marks the end of a four-year cycle of work and collaboration among 73 entities—including companies, universities, and organizations within the scientific and technological community, focused on the development of additive manufacturing and its application in industry.

Throughout the Agenda, projects were developed that contributed to strengthening the knowledge, skills, and technological capacity of the participating entities. These results reflect the joint work carried out by companies and entities from the scientific and technological community and constitute INOV.AM’s main legacy.

With the conclusion of the Agenda, this cycle of work comes to an end, leaving behind the results and skills developed throughout the collaboration among the partners.

About the INOV.AM Shaping Tomorrow: https://conference.inovam.pt/