OUTCOME · Project

Training Experts Who Can Design Aerospace Parts That Survive Extreme Heat and Impact

transportIdeaTRL 2Thin data (2/5)

Imagine building a satellite part that goes from freezing cold to scorching hot in minutes, or gets hit by tiny space debris traveling faster than a bullet. Engineers who truly understand how materials behave under those brutal conditions are incredibly rare. This project brought together universities and aerospace companies across 5 countries to train 8 new PhD-level specialists in exactly that — designing structures that can take a beating from extreme temperatures and violent impacts. Think of it as a specialized boot camp producing the rare engineers that aerospace and defense companies desperately need but can't find on the job market.

By the numbers

PhD theses with research achievements delivered

consortium partners across the network

countries in the consortium (ES, FR, HU, IL, NL)

56%

industry partner ratio in consortium

SMEs participating in the training network

months project duration to final delivery

The business problem

What needed solving

Aerospace and defense companies need engineers who deeply understand how structures behave under extreme temperatures and violent impacts — think satellite components cycling through hundreds of degrees or withstanding hypervelocity collisions. These specialists are extremely scarce in the labor market, forcing companies to either develop expertise slowly in-house or accept design compromises that add weight and cost to their structures.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 8 PhD theses containing advanced research on structural analysis under extreme thermo-mechanical loads. It trained early-stage researchers through a cross-sector network of 9 partners, producing specialists ready for aerospace and defense engineering roles.

Audience

Who needs this

Satellite and spacecraft manufacturers needing structural analysis expertiseDefense contractors designing impact-resistant structuresAerospace component suppliers qualifying parts for extreme environmentsEngineering simulation software companies improving extreme-load solversEngineering consultancies serving aerospace and defense clients

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aerospace Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Satellite component manufacturers and spacecraft integrators

If you are a satellite manufacturer struggling to find engineers who understand how structures behave under extreme thermal cycling and hypervelocity impacts — this project trained 8 PhD specialists in exactly that area. The consortium included 5 industry partners who shaped the training to real engineering needs. These graduates bring cutting-edge knowledge in thermo-mechanical analysis directly applicable to your design and qualification processes.

Defense & Ballistic Protection

enterprise

Target: Armor and protective structure designers

If you are a defense contractor designing protective structures that must withstand extreme mechanical loads — this project developed new analysis methods for structures under severe impact conditions. With 3 academic and 2 industrial beneficiaries collaborating across 5 countries, the research outputs cover advanced simulation and testing methods for impact resistance that can improve your design validation processes.

Engineering Simulation Software

mid-size

Target: CAE and finite element analysis software vendors

If you are a simulation software company looking to improve your solvers for extreme loading scenarios — this project generated 8 PhD theses containing advanced computational methods for thermo-mechanical problems. The research covers gaps in current simulation capabilities for rapid temperature changes and hypervelocity impacts, giving you validated methods to implement in your next product release.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access this expertise or research?

This was a publicly funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie training network, so the 8 PhD theses and published research are publicly accessible. Hiring one of the trained researchers or engaging the consortium for consulting would be at standard academic/industry rates. No product licensing is involved.

Can these methods work at industrial scale for real aerospace components?

The project was specifically designed around industrial needs — 5 of the 9 consortium partners are from industry, giving it a 56% industry ratio. The training explicitly targeted real aerospace and defense structural challenges, not just academic exercises. However, outputs are primarily research knowledge and trained personnel rather than production-ready tools.

Is there any intellectual property or licensing involved?

As an MSCA-ITN training network, the primary outputs are 8 PhD theses and trained researchers. Research publications are typically open access under EU funding rules. Any specific IP generated during industry secondments would be governed by individual consortium agreements between the 9 partners.

How close is this to something we can use in our design process?

This is a training and research program, not a product development project. The 8 PhD theses contain advanced analysis methods that would need further engineering work to integrate into industrial design workflows. The knowledge is most immediately useful by hiring the trained researchers themselves.

What countries and partners were involved?

The consortium spans 5 countries — Spain, France, Hungary, Israel, and the Netherlands — with 9 partners total. The coordinator is Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. With 3 SMEs in the consortium, smaller specialized firms also contributed to and benefited from the training program.

What is the timeline and current status?

The project ran from January 2016 to December 2019 and is now closed. The 8 PhD theses were delivered at month 42. The trained researchers are now in the workforce and the published research is available for application.

Consortium

Who built it

The OUTCOME consortium has an unusually high industry engagement for a training network — 5 out of 9 partners (56%) come from industry, including 3 SMEs. This is significant because it means the PhD training was shaped by real commercial needs rather than purely academic interests. The 5-country spread (Spain, France, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands) covers key European aerospace hubs plus Israel's strong defense technology sector. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid coordinated the effort. For a business looking to tap into this expertise, the mix of 3 universities providing fundamental research depth and 5 industry partners ensuring practical relevance makes the trained researchers particularly well-rounded for immediate industrial employment.

UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRIDCoordinator · ES
UNIVERSITE DE LORRAINEparticipant · FR
YELLOW RESEARCHpartner · NL
TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYparticipant · IL
AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SApartner · ES
EUROPA MEDIA SZOLGALTATO NON PROFIT KFTpartner · HU

How to reach the team

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain — the coordinator of this training network. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with OUTCOME researchers or hire graduates trained in extreme-loading structural analysis? SciTransfer can identify the right specialists and facilitate introductions.

Order a report on this topic More in Transport & Mobility