Modern industry is undergoing an active transformation, with traditional manufacturing methods increasingly being supplemented or replaced by additive technologies. The layer-by-layer production of objects based on three-dimensional digital models opens up new technological opportunities, including the manufacturing of parts with highly complex geometries, structural weight optimization, and shorter prototyping and production cycles.
For Ukraine, the adoption of additive technologies is particularly important. Given the need for rapid economic recovery, a stronger defense sector, and the modernization of healthcare, additive technologies offer flexible and highly efficient solutions. However, implementing such innovations is impossible without training qualified specialists. Preparing a new generation of engineers and researchers requires not only updating the material and technical infrastructure, but also integrating Ukrainian science and higher education into the global research environment and fostering cooperation with leading innovative companies.
For Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute, an important step in this direction has been its participation in the international project "ADMiRE – Additive Manufacturing in Research and Education", supported by the Swedish Institute under the SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme. The project aims to support Ukrainian PhD students and young researchers working in additive manufacturing by engaging them in the international research environment and strengthening cooperation between universities and industry.
The international ADMiRE consortium is led by Karlstad University (Sweden). The academic component is represented by leading Ukrainian technical universities—Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute and National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute"—while the industrial partners are the innovative companies "Chervona Khvylya" (Ukraine) and International Additive Manufacturing Group (Poland). This cooperation ensures the comprehensive integration of academic knowledge, scientific research, and practical experience in implementing additive manufacturing technologies.
In the photo: Postgraduate student of the Department of TM MMI O. Dubinina during her internship at Karlstad UniversityThe main objective of the project is to accelerate the integration of the Ukrainian scientific community into international R&D environments in the field of additive technologies. The project provides young researchers with a platform for acquiring modern practices and facilitating knowledge transfer. To achieve this objective, the project has identified the following priorities: developing human capital by promoting the professional growth of young researchers through academic mobility opportunities and joint research initiatives; modernizing educational content by updating curricula to create synergies between academic knowledge and the needs of the modern labor market; building cross-sectoral networks by establishing a sustainable professional network connecting researchers and business representatives from Sweden, Poland, and Ukraine to jointly address technological challenges; and fostering future scientific cooperation by identifying common research interests to develop new grant applications and establish long-term partnerships in the field of additive technologies.
One of the key outcomes of the Ukrainian universities’ participation in the ADMiRE project is the updating and development of educational components related to additive technologies. The experience of the Educational and Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering at Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute demonstrates that high-quality training of engineers and researchers in this field is possible only through close cooperation with industry and international partners. The educational process combines fundamental knowledge of traditional mechanical engineering technologies with modern approaches to additive manufacturing. Students learn how to select appropriate technologies and materials, prepare 3D models, configure equipment, and carry out post-processing operations. Cooperation with Chervona Khvylya provides opportunities to explore innovative xBeam 3D Metal Printing technology and equipment, while the partnership with International Additive Manufacturing Group offers access to innovative industrial solutions in the field of selective laser melting. For master's students, PhD students, and young researchers, this cooperation provides access to real-world manufacturing challenges and research topics relevant to the needs of modern industry.
A key component of the ADMiRE project is the development of international academic mobility. Through this initiative, young researchers from Ukraine have gained the opportunity to work in the laboratories of Karlstad University and at the industrial facilities of IAMG in Poland. These internships not only strengthen professional competencies but also promote the deeper integration of researchers into global scientific networks, help build professional contacts, and provide exposure to the latest trends in additive manufacturing.
In addition to physical mobility, the project has introduced a virtual mobility format for master's and PhD students from Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute and National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute". Ukrainian students have participated in the "Materials for Additive Manufacturing" course, jointly organized by two Swedish universities—Mid Sweden University and Karlstad University. The course focuses on an in-depth study of physicochemical phenomena, analysis of the impact of printing parameters on the mechanical properties of manufactured parts, and hands-on experience in applying additive technologies to the production of metal components. Participation in the project has enabled students to gain internationally relevant knowledge directly from leading European experts.
An important event within the ADMiRE project was the international seminar "Baltic-Ukrainian Partnership for Innovation in Additive Manufacturing", held on December 3, 2025, at the Smart Shelter CLUST Space of Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute. The event was held in a hybrid format, bringing together a wide range of Ukrainian and European researchers and specialists in additive technologies. The seminar's international committee included Karlstad University (Sweden), Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute", PJSC "R&D Company Chervona Khvylya" (Ukraine), and International Additive Manufacturing Group (Poland).
The seminar program covered the full technology development cycle, from fundamental research to industrial implementation.
World-class expertise was presented by leading researchers from Leibniz University Hannover (Germany), Uppsala University (Sweden), and Imperial College London (United Kingdom), who presented innovations in biomedical materials, materials informatics, and structural design for additive manufacturing.
Industrial case studies were presented by AMAZEMET (Poland), Chervona Khvylya (Ukraine), and Additive Laser Technology (Ukraine). During the seminar, participants had the opportunity to learn about advanced technologies for developing alloys for metal additive manufacturing, the unique xBeam 3D Metal Printing technology and equipment, as well as the specific features of implementing laser powder bed fusion technology.
Ukraine's scientific potential was represented by researchers from leading institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Khmelnytskyi National University. Their presentations covered research into the thermophysical properties of alloys, analysis of the morphological evolution of single tracks produced using laser powder bed fusion technology, and the specific features of hybrid manufacturing technologies.
Particular attention was drawn to the presentation of the Additive Technologies Science Park, established at Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute. Its activities are aimed at comprehensively integrating intellectual resources into the economy through scientific research, commercialization of innovations, intellectual support for small businesses, and the scaling of high-tech solutions in medical prosthetics to address the urgent needs of Ukrainian society.
The seminar brought together 162 participants in a hybrid format, including leading scholars—rectors, professors, and corresponding members of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine—as well as young researchers, PhD students, undergraduate students, and representatives of innovative businesses.
Thus, the ADMiRE project has demonstrated the effectiveness of international cooperation, bringing together academic expertise and industrial experience around a common goal. The development of additive technologies is not merely about mastering equipment; above all, it is about cultivating a new generation of scientific leaders capable of building an innovation-driven economy. The implementation of this initiative with the support of the Swedish Institute and the concerted efforts of its partners provide a strong foundation for a lasting positive impact on the future of Ukrainian science and industry.
In the photo: Students of MMI - veterans get acquainted with products made using xBeam 3D Metal Printing technology from the company Chervona Khvylya