FAME Symposium 2026 – Industrializing Research in Additive Manufacturing
FAME, in collaboration with Patria and supported by Siemens and LUT, invites students to participate in an exciting Additive Manufacturing (AM) Design Challenge! This is a unique opportunity to showcase your creativity and engineering skills while contributing to real-world industrial applications. Join us in redefining the possibilities of AM design and shaping the future of manufacturing!
Why participate?
- Industry Recognition: Your designs will be reviewed by experts from Patria and FAME.
- Skill Development: Deepen your AM design knowledge and simulation experience in a real engineering context.
- Siemens Software Licences: All registered participants receive free Siemens software licences.
- Networking: Connect with professionals in the Finnish AM ecosystem.
- Prizes & Recognition: Winners are invited to FAME Symposium 2026 free of charge and will be recognised on stage at LUT University.
Challenge overview
Patria is seeking novel and innovative AM part designs that demonstrate the potential of additive manufacturing in demanding structural and defence applications.
The objective is to design an additively manufacturable mechanical fuse within a design space. The component should absorb a defined impulse load through controlled plastic deformation — buckling only when a specific impulse threshold is reached — while remaining rigid under lower loads.
End goal:
- Maximise the elastic and plastic energy-absorption capability of the bracket.
- Minimise the impulse (force × time, while time = constant) passed through the bracket.
Design constraints:
- Final component realised with Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) or WAAM/WLAM.
- Final component must be cost-effective.
- Component must stay within the defined design space.
- Auxetic structures and topology optimisation are encouraged.
Who can participate?
- Open to students from Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences with an interest in AM, engineering, or design.
- Individuals or teams of up to 4 members may participate.
Submissions should include
- AM-optimised design: Leverage design freedom, lattice/auxetic structures, or functional integration.
- Material selection: Determine the most suitable AM material and provide a comparative table with elastic resilience values (using provided formulas).
- 3D model: Submit in .step, .stl, or native CAD format.
- Design report: A detailed report explaining concept, material choices, manufacturing feasibility, and how design constraints are met.
| Timeline |
Date |
| Challenge opens |
18 March 2026 |
| Submission deadline |
18 April 2026 |
| Winners chosen and informed |
29 April 2026 |
| Winners Announced at FAME Symposium 2026 |
20 & 21 May 2026, LUT University |
How to participate
- Register for the challenge by filling out the registration form link.
- Receive the full design problem statement, specifications document, and access to free Siemens software licences if requested.
- Develop your AM-optimised design and submit your 3D model (.step, .stl, native CAD) together with a design report before 18 April 2026. NOTE: due to the nature of the challenge, creativity is appreciated, and groups are encouraged to ask questions or attend the Q&A session planned.
- Await feedback and results from the expert evaluation committee by 29 April 2026.
Winning criteria
The committee will evaluate submissions based on:
- Creativity and effective use of AM-specific design capabilities, even if the design is not final.
- Feasibility and printability of the proposed solution.
- Manufacturing cost-efficiency.
*Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
By participating in the competition, teams grant Patria a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive right to use, modify, further develop, manufacture, and commercialize the submitted designs and related materials without separate compensation. Participants retain the right to use the work in their portfolios, present the work in academic contexts, and refer to the project in CVs and publications. If a submission contains patentable material, participants agree to inform the organizers before any public disclosure. By submitting their work, participants accept these IPR terms.
Join the challenge & redefine the future of AM!
This is your chance to make an impact in the world of industrial additive manufacturing while gaining hands-on experience and industry exposure. Don’t miss this opportunity!
For more details, contact FAME team at fame@dimecc.com directly.
