BAM and University of Birmingham extend cooperation – focus on Additive Manufacturing

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and the University of Birmingham (UoB) are continuing their strategic partnership established in 2018. Representatives of both institutions signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Berlin to secure joint research, innovation transfer, and scientific exchange.

“Our partnership with the University of Birmingham is a showcase example of international cooperation with real added value — scientifically, societally, and strategically,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne, President of BAM.

Technically, Additive Manufacturing is moving more into focus. The partners are addressing applications in space and energy technologies, including thermally conductive structures and corrosion-resistant components. A key element is the electron-beam powder bed technology at UoB, which enables the processing of copper and precious metals. Such materials are relevant for high-current components and vacuum-compatible structures, but they require precise process windows regarding electron-beam power, scanning strategy, and preheating temperatures to limit porosity and hot cracking.

“International collaboration is at the heart of the University of Birmingham’s mission, and our partnership with BAM reflects this commitment. Bringing together researchers, students, and technical professionals enables us to tackle shared challenges and, through long-term, strategic international collaborations, achieve sustainable and meaningful impact,” says Professor Rachel O’Reilly, MBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at UoB.

The cooperation is organized into four priorities: energy, additive manufacturing, environmental and life sciences, and chemistry and materials. In the energy sector, results from hydrogen safety tests and battery safety analyses feed into design guidelines; the jointly developed hydrogen safety module has been used multiple times in a European summer school. In parallel, data-driven design approaches support the scaling of additive processes, for example through in-situ monitoring and downstream non-destructive testing. Since 2018, more than €9 million in funding has been applied for, over 30 publications have been released, and more than 14 PhD exchanges have been realized; in addition, over 50 workshops and seminars have taken place.

“During my time at BAM, I had access to state-of-the-art equipment that enabled me to carry out some of the experiments I’m most proud of. Both my scientific and professional development were further advanced by the diverse network of colleagues and partners I came to know at BAM,” says doctoral candidate Joseph Okeke.

With the extension of the MoU, BAM and UoB aim to expand collaboration to civil engineering, cultural heritage protection, and non-destructive testing methods. For the AM community, the expansion promises above all robust process knowledge, qualified component testing, and transferable workflows for series production and regulatory requirements.