SUBLIME Annual Meeting Showcases Progress, Collaboration, and Real-World Impact
On 27 March, the SUBLIME consortium gathered for its annual user committee meeting, hosted by ProRail in a unique and inspiring setting at the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht. The meeting brought together academic researchers, industry partners, and infrastructure stakeholders to exchange insights, review progress, and strengthen collaboration across the project. From technical innovations to broader societal perspectives, the day demonstrated how SUBLIME is evolving from foundational research into tangible results with real-world relevance. Read the full article and watch the video on the SUBLIME-website
PRESS RELEASE: Coalitie van wetenschappers spreekt zich uit voor maatwerkafspraak Tata Steel
English version of this press release can be found below the article. Wetenschappers uit het programma ‘Groeien met Groen staal’ van het Nationaal Groeifonds spreken zich in economenvakblad ESB en via een brief aan Kamerleden uit vóór een maatwerkafspraak tussen Tata Steel Nederland en de Nederlandse overheid. In hun betoog onderschrijven zij de noodzaak van, in Nederland geproduceerd, staal voor de Nederlandse economie. In Groeien met Groen staal werken wetenschappers vanuit verschillende disciplines samen om de gehele staalsector te verduurzamen. Het doel is de CO₂-uitstoot van het maken, verwerken en gebruiken van staal omlaag te
Circular Circuits Consortium Meets in Utrecht
On 6 March 2026, as the first signs of spring began to appear across the Netherlands, the Circular Circuits consortium gathered in Utrecht for its annual meeting. Researchers, industry partners, and societal stakeholders met at Vergadercentrum Vredenburg to review progress, exchange ideas, and discuss the next steps toward implementing circular electronics solutions. Read the full article and watch the video on the Circular Circuits website.
SUBLIME- EngD Project Defence: Ali Sabzi Khoshraftar
The SUBLIME consortium is pleased to announce the successful defence of the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) project by Ali Sabzi Khoshraftar, who presented his work on the development and evaluation of predictive digital twins for steel bridge assessment and maintenance. Ali carried out his EngD research within the Pervasive Systems (PS) Research Group at the University of Twente, chaired by Dr. Özlem Durmaz-Incel, under the supervision of Prof.dr.ir. Maarten van Steen, Dr.ir. Berend Jan van der Zwaag, and Dr. Le Viet Duc. Ali’s EngD project contributes to the SUBLIME ambition of
ADD-reAM Project Officially Launched: A New Step Towards Circular Manufacturing
ADD-reAM Project Officially Launched: A New Step Towards Circular Manufacturing ADD-reAM Takes Off This Spring: A United Step Towards Circular Manufacturing As spring unfolds - a season of renewal, growth and new beginnings - the ADD-reAM project officially kicked off with energy, optimism and a shared sense of purpose. Like the first light after winter, the meeting marked the start of a collaborative journey toward a more circular and resilient industrial future. Bringing together 30 partners and supported by nearly €7 million in funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO),
Two-step finish of the “Transforming carbon-rich industrial waste gases of metallurgical plants into valuable products (TRANSCRIPT)” project
Project C19017 | Market: CO₂ Conversion Written by Yulia Fischer, M2i January 2026 marked the bold finale of the NWO-funded project TRANSCRIPT. With the successful PhD defenses of Joyce Kromwijk and Angela Melcherts, the final chapters of an ambitious scientific journey were formally closed — not quietly, but with distinction. TRANSCRIPT — Transforming carbon-rich industrial waste gases of metallurgical plants into valuable products — brought together researchers from Utrecht University and Leiden University under the supervision of Prof. Bert Weckhuysen and Prof. Marc Koper, in close collaboration with Tata Steel.
M2i Thematic Meeting: Twin Transition for Sustainable Shipbuilding – Registration open
M2i is pleased to announce that registration has opened for the upcoming Thematic Meeting titled ‘Twin Transition for Sustainable Shipbuilding’, taking place on 17 March in Sneek. In this thematic meeting the focus will be on Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and introduce innovative developments, share practical insights, and explore opportunities to collaborate—so we can accelerate progress together. Through interactive breakout sessions, we will identify common themes to investigate further and lay the groundwork for future industry–academia collaborations in these areas.
CT de Boer Showcases SUBLIME Fieldwork at the 2025 M2i Conference
During the 2025 M2i Conference at Papendal, Anton Gorter of Civiele Technieken de Boer presented the progress of SUBLIME’s field monitoring work on the Van Hall Bridge in Amsterdam. His talk, “An on-site measurement campaign – it sounds so simple” highlighted the many practical steps and unforeseen challenges involved in collecting high-quality strain data on a historic movable steel bridge. Read more
M2i Community Conference 2025 – Looking back!
On 8 December 2025, the annual M2i Community Conference took place at Sports Centre Papendal in Arnhem. More than 225 professionals and researchers gathered to discuss material science and present their work. For the first time, the M2i GGS research team participated in this vibrant community event. Their presence added fresh energy to the day’s scientific and technical exchange. Read more
Sheet Pile Corrosion Study Begins
The SUBLIME project is taking a major step forward in understanding how steel sheet piles age in real port conditions.
M2i is looking for a Programme Manager National Growth Fund ‘Groeien met Groen Staal’
M2i is looking for a Programme Manager National Growth Fund ‘Groeien met Groen Staal’.
CIRHY Project Approved: A Major Boost for Green, Hydrogen-Resistant Circular Steels
We are proud to announce that “Circularity as Opportunity: Engineering Hydrogen-Resistant Circular Steels (CIRHY)” has officially been approved in the highly competitive NWO Perspectief 2024–2025 round. The project represents a major step forward in the development of safe, circular and hydrogen-resistant steels, strengthening the Netherlands’ position at the forefront of green steel innovation.
PURECOOL ranked as #1 Perspectief proposal: Ready for Next-Generation Cryogenics
Our M2i-supported project PURECOOL — Next-Generation Cryogenics: Advanced Thermal Interfaces and Low-Power Low-Noise Cooling Solutions — has been awarded top funding in the NWO Perspectief 2024–2025 call, ranking #1 in the competition.
Looking back: M2i Thematic Meeting REACH-ing for a PFAS free future
On 7 October 2025, experts from research, industry, and regulatory bodies convened at the Mikrocentrum in Veldhoven for the M2i thematic meeting “REACH-ing for a PFAS-Free Future.” The event addressed the urgent challenge of developing sustainable alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—materials long valued for their durability and versatility, yet increasingly restricted due to environmental and health concerns.
Circular Circuits Outreach Event – Building the Future of Circular Electronics
On 17 October 2025, researchers, policymakers, and industry representatives gathered at the Dutch Tech Campus in Zoetermeer for the Circular Circuits Outreach Event, a full-day programme dedicated to advancing circularity in the electronics sector. Hosted by the Reconext, supported by Dutch Tech Campus / Ping Properties, and co-organised with M2i, the event brought together more than 70 participants from government, academia, and business to share concrete pathways toward closing material loops in electronic products. Read more and watch the movie on the Circular Circuits website
Symposium: Railway rails and rail maintenance, now and in the future
The M2i research project Fundamental study of contact fatigue strength of rail after grinding has resulted in a thesis entitled Damage behavior of ground pearlitic railway steel. Researcher Bart Schotsman and promotors Em Prof.Dr.Ir. Jilt Sietsma, Prof.Dr. Maria Santofimia Navarro and Prof.Dr.Ir. Roumen Petrov of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, TU Delft), organize a symposium to mark the completion of the project.
Wenfeng Liu defends PhD cum laude and receives Rubicon grant
On 12 September 2025, Wenfeng Liu successfully defended his PhD cum laude at the University of Amsterdam, under the supervision of Dr. Corentin Coulais. This highest academic distinction highlights Wenfeng’s outstanding contributions to the field of metamaterials.
Reflections on ICSBM 2025 – Advancing Sustainable Building Materials
From 11 to 13 August 2025, the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) became the meeting point for the sustainable construction materials community as it hosted the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Building Materials (ICSBM 2025).
M2i Thematic Meeting: REACH-ing for a PFAS free future – Registration open
M2i is pleased to announce that registration has opened for the upcoming Thematic Meeting titled ‘REACH-ing for a PFAS free future’, taking place on 7 October 2025 in Eindhoven. The event focuses on advancing sustainable solutions and innovations to replace PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in a wide range of applications.
Looking Back: M2i Thematic Meeting: How to shape the Aluminum Future
On Wednesday, June 18th a one-day thematic workshop was held to discuss challenges and opportunities in the aluminium industry. The event, held at the Koninklijke Metaalunie in Nieuwegein, was organized by M2i and the Dutch Aluminium Association (DAA). Experts from industry and academia presented their views on topics such as sustainability, decarbonization and innovative means to optimize the utilization of aluminium, in particular focusing on increasing recycled alloy content feedstock without sacrificing productivity and resulting material properties.
TRIATHLON 3rd Progress meeting in Vienna
On the 3rd and 4th of June the TRIATHLON project team gathered for the M18 consortium meeting in the vibrant city of Vienna, hosted by consortium partner Lithoz. The meeting brought all partners together, the two-day session focused on reviewing progress, aligning priorities, and planning the path ahead.
Registration open: 16th Forming Technology Forum on 17 and 18 September 2025
The registration for the 16th Forming Technology Forum has opened! The Forming Technology Forum will take place on 17 and 18 September 2025 in Enschede, the Netherlands. The theme of this year’s conference is Hybrid Models for Material Forming, Combining Physics & Data and Machine Learning. Forming Technology Forum is a 2-day conference with a limited number of carefully selected presentations and sufficient time for in-depth discussion. Forming Technology Forum sets itself apart from other similarly focused conferences with its highly interactive, supportive and collaborative environment that is achieved by having only plenary sessions, encouraging lively discussions after
‘Doe maar duurzaam’ showcasts Circular Circuits project
The Circular Circuits project participates in the next TV-program “Doe maar duurzaam”. The project leader Prof. Arnold Tukker and two PhD’s (Dorien van Dolderen and Max van Beek) explain the need for circularity in electronics in front of the camera.
M2i Thematic Meeting: Towards the Circular Economy in Metals – Looking back
On April 8, 2025, the Materials innovation institute (M2i) hosted the thematic meeting “Towards Circular Economy in Metals” at Het Vakwerkhuis in Delft. The event convened experts from academia, industry, and government to explore strategies for transitioning the metals sector towards circularity. The program topics spanned over the whole metal life cycle allowing for a balanced view.