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Additive manufacturing for demanding industries

New funding fuels breakthroughs in sustainable and smart manufacturingManufacturing NextMaterials (MNM) is once again pushing the boundaries of innovation. Two new cross-border projects have officially been awarded funding, each accelerating the shift toward smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable production of high-performance components. Both initiatives exemplify the program’s mission: empowering SMEs to scale up from prototypes to test production using smart materials and flexible technologies.Additive manufacturing for demanding industriesA second MNM-supported project brings together <a href="https://www.douna.nl/">DOUNA</a> (NL) and <a href="https://www.fh-muenster.de/en/">FH Münster </a>(DE) to pioneer additive manufacturing (AM) with metallic components for high-requirement sectors like the oil and gas industry. While AM is already commonplace in aerospace and automotive applications, it remains underutilized in niche markets with strict material and performance demands. This project aims to change that.FH Münster will lead on design and metal printing, while DOUNA focuses on post-processing and industrial integration. Together, they will develop a complete AM process chain tailored to a new material type (e.g., 1.0566), delivering high-strength, lightweight demonstrator parts. The collaboration promises to enhance competitiveness and open new markets through sustainable implementation of AM technologies.Cross-border innovation, backed by EuropeThese projects are part of the Manufacturing NextMaterials initiative, a key component of the Interreg VI Deutschland-Nederland program. The initiative is co-financed by the European Union, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, MWIKE NRW, MB Niedersachsen, and the provinces of Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslân, Gelderland, Groningen, Noord-Brabant, and Overijssel.Together, we’re scaling innovation, boosting SME competitiveness, and building a smarter, greener manufacturing future.