A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | A P R I L 2 0 2 3 3 0 HK: How are you shaping these core technologies based on the variety of AM processes you support? TN: The center has several projects going on. One of them is the national science project called SIP. This program was established in 2014 to realize science and technology innovation through the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation’s command post function and its leading role in management that transcends the boundaries of ministries and old disciplines. The first project won significant funding support at the center, followed by another large round of funding in the second phase of the SIP. Ten themes that are considered essential and critical to Japan’s economic and industrial competitiveness were selected for the program. These research themes aim to create new materials by integrating materials engineering with information engineering and using digital space. These goals have become a major driving force for strengthening our industrial capabilities. In addition, Japan has a large fund called JST-CREST. This fund was established to promote original and internationally advanced basic research under the management of a research director to achieve strategic goals set by the government. The research was aimed at creating innovative materials with artificially custom-controlled mechanical functions. This involved studying the strengthening mechanism at specific interfaces ranging from nano to macro that is expected to be formed by metal 3D printing, learning from bone tissue, and freely designing and introducing particular interfaces based on the coordination of analysis in physical space and cyberspace. The fact that our center has been awarded significant funding from the Japanese government for one project after another shows how much Japan considers AM technology to be the main focus of next-generation materials development. We are proud to be a leader in this field and we are all working with a sense of responsibility and pride. HK: Thank you for explaining how important the AM center is to Japan’s materials science initiatives. Can you talk about some of your latest plans? TN: While strengthening industry- academia collaboration, we will deepen and further accelerate the deployment of AM technology in materials development. However, we are also looking to develop AM technology into a process that will be the core of future materials development as amore significant wave. One such movement is the AM research group. I launched this research group last year in discussion with my colleagues and the people from companies that have been cooperating with us. I am currently thepresident of theJapan Institute of Metals. This AM research group was launched on April 1, 2022, as one of the industry-academia cooperative research groups at the Japan Institute of Metals. The purpose of this study group is to contribute to strengthening Japan’s manufacturing industry by building AM science and technology beyond the framework of industry-academia-government and even academic societies and by spreading AM technology widely in Japan through digital technology. The organization intends to develop AM technology for all materials by encompassing metals, polymers, ceramics, glass, resins, cells, and composite materials. In the future, we will regularly hold AM-related events including trend surveys, research meetings, seminars, and symposiums. We will also make policy proposals to the government and summarize the activities of the Science Council of Japan to establish the Japanese Institute of Additive Manufacturing (JIA) in about four years. We are preparing to develop this new academic institution with three pillars: AM science, AM technology, and AM business. We have held several workshops with participation across a wide range of fields, from government and public offices to academia and industry, with more than 500 people attending each workshop. ~AM&P For more information: Hideyuki Kanematsu, professor of materials science and engineering, National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Suzuka College, Japan, kanemats@ mse.suzuka-ct.ac.jp. Fig. 5 — Atomic orientation, structure, and isotropic/anisotropic design.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTYyMzk3NQ==