Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)
About
The UPC is a top-tier institution for materials science recognized by the QS World University Rankings 2026 as a leader in this discipline in Spain.
We address core research topics at the intersection of metal additive manufacturing (AM) and advanced lightweighting technologies:
- Innovative part geometries for lightweighting beyond those of conventional manufacturing.
- AM parameters, microstructure and final structural performance as one of the biggest challenges.
- Alloy development
- AM Process control and optimization plus part quality assessment
- Qualification and Certification
Areas of activity
Business Sector
Aeronautics & SpaceAutomotiveEquipment, Technologies, InstrumentsMarine Engineering & Offshore OperationsMechanical engineeringNew MaterialsRecyclingOther Topics
Topic(s) of interest for R&D on Lightweighting
Development and testing of lightweighting design and manufacturing conceptsDevelopment and use of novel or alternative advanced lightweight materials including optimized manufacturing processesSubstitution of conventional (raw-)materials with sustainable and lightweighting alternatives with a lower ecological footprintInnovative approaches in the areas of ease of disassembly, reparability, recyclability, and reuse of lightweighting componentsUse of digital technologies to optimize lightweighting design for circularity, lifecycle assessment and material tracking in the field of lightweightingDevelopment of transferable and scalable business models for circular lightweighting design and manufacturing
Representatives
ICREA Research Professor
Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)
Professor
Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)