STICHTING MATERIALS INNOVATION INSTITUTE (M2I)

Their core work

M2i is a Dutch materials research institute based in Delft that bridges fundamental materials science with industrial application. They coordinate ERA-NET funding programs that connect national research agendas across Europe in advanced manufacturing and materials innovation. Their hands-on technical work centers on additive manufacturing for large-scale industrial structures, including functionally graded materials and wire+arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) with integrated quality inspection. They serve as a connector between SMEs, research labs, and manufacturing industry across Europe.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2016), M2i focused on policy coordination — aligning European research agendas in nanotechnologies, materials, and production through CSA-type projects like SYNAMERA and the IND2016 conference. From 2016 onward, they shifted toward hands-on technical work, culminating in Grade2XL (2020–2024) where they stepped up as coordinator of a large-scale additive manufacturing project. This progression shows a clear move from research programming and networking into direct technology development and project leadership.

M2i is transitioning from a research coordination role into hands-on technology leadership in industrial additive manufacturing, making them increasingly relevant as a technical partner rather than just a network facilitator.

How they like to work

M2i has operated primarily as a participant (4 of 5 projects) but took the coordinator role on their largest and most recent project (Grade2XL), suggesting growing confidence and capacity to lead. With 87 unique partners across 32 countries, they maintain an exceptionally broad network relative to their project count — a direct result of their ERA-NET coordination work which connects dozens of national funding agencies. This makes them a valuable "network node" for consortium builders who need reach across many European countries.

M2i has collaborated with 87 unique partners across 32 countries — an unusually wide network for an institute with only 5 projects, driven by their ERA-NET participation which connects national funding bodies continent-wide. Their base in Delft places them in the heart of the Dutch advanced manufacturing and materials ecosystem.

What sets them apart

M2i combines two roles that rarely sit in one organization: they understand the European research funding landscape from the inside (through ERA-NET coordination) AND they do applied manufacturing R&D (through Grade2XL). For a consortium builder, this means M2i can both contribute technically on materials and manufacturing topics and help navigate multi-country funding structures. Their Delft location also gives them proximity to TU Delft's materials science ecosystem.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Grade2XL
  Their only coordinator role and largest project (EUR 457K), applying wire+arc additive manufacturing to extra-large structures with functionally graded materials — a concrete industrial application.
• M-ERA.NET 2
  Six-year ERA-NET spanning 2016–2022 for materials research and innovation, connecting national funding programs across Europe — explains their disproportionately large partner network.
• MANUNET III
  ERA-NET specifically targeting advanced manufacturing SME competitiveness, showing M2i's commitment to bridging research with small and medium enterprise needs.