Assoc. Prof. Dr Inigo Flores Ituarte | Sustainability in Material Science | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iñigo Flores Ituarte is a leading expert in digital manufacturing and additive technologies, serving at Tampere University and as an Academy Research Fellow in Finland 🏛️🔬. With a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University, his research focuses on intelligent manufacturing, design digitalization, and sustainable production 🧠⚙️📈. He has authored 50+ high-impact publications, secured €11M+ in research funding, and collaborates globally across academia and industry 🤝🌐. Also a founding member of SelectAM, his work bridges innovation, education, and entrepreneurship in advanced manufacturing systems 💡📊🚀.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Inigo Flores Ituarte, Tampere University, Finland

Profile

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Education 🎓

Dr. Iñigo Flores Ituarte holds a Doctor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University, Finland, with a dissertation on the digitalization of additive manufacturing 🧠⚙️. He also earned an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto and a B.Sc. from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain 🏗️📐. He is a Docent in Digital Design and Manufacturing at Tampere University and has completed advanced pedagogical training in Finland and Denmark 👨‍🏫🧩. Fluent in Basque, Spanish, and English, his academic journey blends technical mastery, teaching excellence, and cross-cultural expertise 🌍🧑‍🔧🗣️.

Experience 🏭

Dr. Iñigo Flores Ituarte has held key academic positions including Associate Professor in Digital Manufacturing at Tampere University and Academy Research Fellow at the Research Council of Finland 🎓🔬. His previous roles span Industry Professor at Tampere, Assistant Professor at Aalborg University, and Guest Associate Professor at DTU 🔧🏛️. His industrial experience includes positions at Nokia (3D printing specialist), Alstom Wind (O&M engineer), and Konecranes (sales engineer) ⚙️📊. He is also the co-founder of SelectAM, a tech spin-off applying AI in supply chain design 🤖📈. His career blends innovation, research, and global industry impact.

Awards and Honours 🏆

In 2023, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iñigo Flores Ituarte was awarded the Academy Research Fellow (ARF) grant by the Research Council of Finland, one of the nation’s most prestigious and competitive recognitions for early-career researchers 🚀📚. This esteemed funding supports his salary, research team, and project costs, enabling him to lead cutting-edge, high-impact research that drives scientific innovation 🔬💡. Granted to individuals with the potential to become global leaders in their field, the ARF award underscores his rising influence and leadership within the international scientific community 🌍📈. It marks a significant milestone in his academic career.

Research Focus ⚙️

Dr. Iñigo Flores Ituarte’s research focuses on digital manufacturing, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and intelligent design systems 🖨️🔧. He explores the industrialization and scalability of additive technologies, bridging rapid prototyping and full-scale production for sectors like automotive and healthcare 🚗🏥. His work emphasizes technology validation, emissions analysis, and innovation policy, integrating digital twins and AI for smart, sustainable manufacturing ♻️📈. With a strong emphasis on application-based research and industry collaboration, he contributes to advancing next-gen production systems that are efficient, flexible, and digitally integrated across global supply chains 🌍🔄🤖.

Publications 📘

Digital manufacturing applicability of a laser sintered component for automotive industry: a case study 🚗⚙️
Authors: Iñigo Flores Ituarte, Sergei Chekurov, Jukka Tuomi, Julien Etienne Mascolo, Alessandro Zanella, Patrick Springer, Jouni Partanen
Journal: Rapid Prototyping Journal 📰

Additive Manufacturing Validation Methods, Technology Transfer Based on Case Studies 🔍🏭
Authors: Iñigo Flores Ituarte, Niklas Kretzschmar, Sergei Chekurov, Jouni Partanen, Jukka Tuomi
Book Chapter: Additive Manufacturing – Developments in Training and Education 📘

Additive Manufacturing in Finland: Recommendations for a Renewed Innovation Policy 🇫🇮🧩
Authors: Iñigo Flores Ituarte, M. Salmi, R.M. Ballardini, J. Tuomi, J. Partanen
Journal: Physics Procedia 🧪

Characterization of Emissions from a Desktop 3D Printer 🌫️🖨️
Authors: L. Mendes, A. Kangas, K. Kukko, B. Mølgaard, A. Säämänen, T. Kanerva, Iñigo Flores Ituarte, M. Huhtiniemi, H. Stockmann-Juvala, J. Partanen, et al.
Journal: Journal of Industrial Ecology 🌍

The ultrasonic burnishing of cobalt-chrome and stainless steel surface made by additive manufacturing 🔧🔬
Authors: Mika Salmi, Juha Huuki, Iñigo Flores Ituarte
Journal: Progress in Additive Manufacturing 📈

3D printing and applications: Academic research through case studies in Finland 🇫🇮📚
Authors: Iñigo Flores Ituarte, E. Huotilainen, A. Mohite, S. Chekurov, M. Salmi, J. Helle, M. Wang, K. Kukko, R. Björkstrand, J. Tuomi, et al.
Conference: Proceedings of NordDesign, NordDesign 2016 🎤

Challenges to implementing additive manufacturing in globalised production environments 🌐🏗️
Authors: Iñigo Flores Ituarte, Siavash H. Khajavi, Jouni Partanen
Journal: International Journal of Collaborative Enterprise 🤝

Werkne Sorsa | materials | Sustainable Materials Recognition

Mr Werkne Sorsa, Jimma university and Applied forest university Germany, Ethiopia

🌍 Mr. Werkne Sorsa is a dedicated Senior Lecturer and researcher in the School of Chemical Engineering at Jimma University Institute of Technology. With a focus on 🌱 sustainable environmental engineering, he specializes in nanomaterials and has conducted impactful research on eco-friendly solutions, such as calcium oxide nanoparticles from corncobs and eggshells for cadmium removal. His technical skills include MATLAB, advanced analytical techniques (NMR, FTIR), and laboratory coordination. 📊 His recent publications on water remediation and waste management emphasize green chemistry approaches, making him a strong candidate for the 🌐 Sustainable Materials Recognition award.

Professional Highlights

Mr. Werkne Sorsa is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in the School of Chemical Engineering at Jimma University Institute of Technology. With a focus on environmental engineering and nanomaterials, his work includes developing sustainable processes for industrial applications and conducting experiments on nanoparticles for environmental remediation.

Academic Background

Mr. Sorsa holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering, with projects emphasizing sustainable solutions such as producing fuel oil from waste plastics and eco-friendly hand sanitizers. His research includes synthesizing corncob-supported calcium oxide nanoparticles from eggshells for removing cadmium from aqueous solutions.

Technical Skills

Mr. Sorsa is proficient in MATLAB, Excel, and advanced analytical instrumentation, including NMR and FTIR. His skills extend to chemical engineering software and laboratory coordination, contributing to his effective research practices.

Research Focus

🔬 Mr. Werkne Sorsa’s research centers on environmental remediation and sustainable water treatment. His work explores innovative approaches using natural and waste-derived materials like corncob-supported calcium oxide nanoparticles and biochar to tackle heavy metal contamination in water. His projects include cadmium and chromium removal from wastewater and nutrient extraction from coffee industry effluents using constructed wetlands. With methodologies like electrocoagulation and response surface analysis, Mr. Sorsa’s studies contribute to eco-friendly and cost-effective treatment solutions, emphasizing waste-to-resource innovations ♻️ and green chemistry 🌱. His research is vital for advancing sustainable environmental engineering practices\

Publication Top Notes

Corncob-supported calcium oxide nanoparticles from hen eggshells for cadmium (Cd-II) removal from aqueous solutions; Synthesis and characterization

Conclusion

Mr. Werkne Sorsa’s expertise in environmental engineering and sustainable materials positions him as an ideal candidate for the Sustainable Materials Recognition award. His research, which combines chemical engineering with environmental remediation, contributes significantly to eco-friendly and sustainable practices, underscoring his impact in the field.