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

SCOPUS

ORCID

GOOGLESCHOLAR

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