European Training Network on "Process Fingerprint for Zero-defect Net-shape MICROMANufacturing" - MICROMAN - H2020 Marie Skłodowska Curie

Abstract

The continuous trend towards miniaturization and multi-functionality embedded in products and processes calls for an ever increasing innovation, research and development within the European manufacturing sector. A necessary condition for the European productive sector to be at the global forefront of technology, ensuring job creation and sustainable growth, is to have access to innovative, entrepreneurial, highly skilled research engineers in the fields of micro manufacturing and micro product/process development. The MICROMAN ITN provides world excellent research training to 13 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the field of micro manufacturing proposing: (1) innovative technological solutions for high quality and high throughput micro production (micro manufacturing process fingerprint, zero-defect net-shape micro manufacturing) for the micro manufacturing industry; (2) cutting edge inter-disciplinary training in different domains (µ-polymer moulding, µ-metal forming, µ-extrusion, µ-machining, µ-tooling technologies, µ-product metrology, µ-manufacturing process metrology); (3) validation of different micro manufacturing processes by integration into process chains for the production of micro component in the bio-medical, health-care, machine tool, pharmaceutical, quality control sectors. The training strategy is based on the 70-20-10 principle, in which each single ESR will develop a core technical competence, a complementary technical competence, and a general technical competence in all domains addressed by the project with a research effort proportional to the 70%-20%-10% of the total effort. An all-round, comprehensive yet specialized training in micro manufacturing will be ensured. Specific training programs on project engineering research management and entrepreneurship complete the training and provides the ESRs with the required skills to effectively contribute to the competitiveness of the European micro manufacturing industry, and in turn to job creation and well-being of the European society.