Projects

Summary

The aim of the MINERVA project is to develop advanced, sustainable materials with high performance features, with a view to meeting current social challenges such as the generation of clean energy, electromobility and a reduction in environmental impact in industry. The initiative combines advanced material transformation technologies (additive manufacturing, laser welding), multiscale characterisation methodologies and digital simulation tools in order to obtain new metal and ceramic materials with mechanical, electrical, thermal and magnetic properties, thus expanding their applicability in a range of industrial sectors.

Objectives

• Design and develop sustainable materials throughout their life cycle, thus reducing dependence on critical materials and optimising manufacturing efficiency. 
• Develop high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with enhanced functional properties.  
• Incorporate advanced technologies such as laser welding and additive manufacturing into new products with high added value. 
• Generate digital tools and in silico models to speed up the design of materials and their functional validation.
• Boost environmental sustainability via the complete life cycle analysis of materials.
• Meet strategic challenges in smart industry, energy transition and health (remote monitoring materials and surgical actuators).

Ceit’s role

Ceit is spearheading the consortium and coordinating the scientific-technological development of the project. It provides its expertise in the design of metal and ceramic materials with high performance features, as well as in advanced transformation and multiscale characterisation processes via its Advanced Manufacturing in Powder Metallurgy and Laser group.