Singapore Research Attachment Programme (SRAP) Award: Project on “FEUP–SC3DP Advanced Doctoral Programme in Additive Manufacturing Processes and Technologies”

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore’s lead public research and development agency, has just announced the approval of the project “FEUP–SC3DP Advanced Doctoral Programme in Additive Manufacturing Processes and Technologies” for the Singapore Research Attachment Programme (SRAP). This initiative funds international PhD students for advanced research attachments in Singapore.

This approval represents international recognition of the scientific quality and the strategic relevance of the collaboration established between the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

The decision, granted under the second cycle of FY2025 of the SRAP, ensures total funding of up to €420,000 (S$626,700), valid until January 2030, to support the mobility of six FEUP doctoral students undertaking advanced research placements in Singapore lasting between one and two years. These placements will be jointly supervised by teams from FEUP and SC3DP, enabling the PhD candidates to take part in cutting-edge research projects within world-class laboratory environments.

This SRAP approval follows the cooperation strategy formalised in December 2025 with the signing of a Collaboration Agreement between FEUP and NTU, which reinforced the institutional relationship previously established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Singapore. This formal framework promotes joint development in research, doctoral education and advanced mobility in the field of additive manufacturing.

The official launch of ADAPT, held during the workshop “Additive Manufacturing Processes and Technologies”, marked the beginning of a strategic collaboration between the two institutions. The programme was designed to address emerging challenges in additive manufacturing through an interdisciplinary approach combining advanced materials, process engineering, generative design, digital twins, sustainability, and explainable artificial intelligence. The programme brings together complementary scientific expertise from FEUP and SC3DP, as well as industrial partners in Portugal and Singapore, thereby strengthening links to innovation and technology transfer.

The approval of the SRAP application represents a decisive step towards consolidating this vision. Doctoral candidates will gain access to world-class laboratories, highly specialised teams, and a particularly dynamic industrial and technological ecosystem. The collaboration also provides for rigorous scientific monitoring mechanisms, including annual progress reports and joint supervision, ensuring strategic alignment between the institutions involved.

According to Gil Gonçalves, FEUP’s Associate Dean for Internationalisation, this distinction marks a significant step forward in the faculty’s internationalisation strategy and in the affirmation of its scientific leadership. “This approval reflects the excellence of the research carried out at FEUP and strengthens our ability to train researchers in truly global contexts. It is a recognition that propels our school to new levels of international scientific collaboration.”

Meanwhile, Paulo Bártolo, Executive Director of SC3DP at NTU, highlighted the importance of this partnership with one of Singapore’s key funding and research promotion bodies: “This collaboration with FEUP allows us to strengthen advanced research in additive manufacturing and train highly qualified talent in an international environment. The approval by A*STAR validates the scientific and industrial relevance of the work we are developing together.”

With this achievement, the partnership between FEUP and NTU reinforces its transformative character, combining advanced infrastructure, outstanding scientific expertise, and a shared vision for the future of additive manufacturing.