Advanced Manufacturing is an ESA cross-cutting initiative that has the central aim to identify emerging manufacturing technologies that open up new industrial possibilities in terms of design freedom, streamlined production stages and reduced cost, along with enhanced performance from the final product. Since its introduction, more than 40 technology development activities have been kicked-off with the European Space Industry, mainly funded by GSTP, covering developments in the area of materials processing, surface engineering, shaping (including additive manufacturing), joining, and assembly. It has brought together industrial and institutional partners from all sectors of the manufacturing and design domain of space, and has assisted in the development and industrialisation of manufacturing processes in Europe. 

Whereas advanced manufacturing is dedicated to production capabilities on Earth, the workshop features also a dedicated day for manufacturing in space. This domain is recognised as a future key enabling technology, which can have significant positive impacts on the cost, logistics, duration and performance of robotic and human space missions. This can affect potentially all aspects of space activities, from alleviating design constraints imposed by the launch phase, leading to larger components, enhanced mission scenarios and reduced material and energy consumption, to allowing new maintenance strategies and expansion of exploration capabilities during human exploration missions, for longer, more sustainable missions. 

Main objectives for the workshop 
Day 1: the first day of the workshop is dedicated to Out of Earth Manufacturing. The international context on the development of in-space manufacturing technologies will be covered and the perspective from actors in Industry and at ESA will be presented. Round table discussions will be conducted, to establish future steps for fostering and supporting the development of relevant manufacturing and assembly technologies.   
Note: This workshop will address manufacturing technologies using materials launched from Earth. Manufacturing technologies based on the processing of regolith or other in-situ resources are not within the scope of this workshop, as they are addressed in other ESA events. 

Day 2: The second day of the workshop will provide the latest status of ongoing technology development activities in the are of advanced manufacturing. It also provides a networking opportunity and information for the latest compendium issued in Nov 2019, which opened the technology development activities to smart manufacturing, that includes the possibility for the European Space industry to adopt manufacturing digitalization and automation. 

 Note: This workshop will address manufacturing technologies using materials launched from Earth. Manufacturing technologies based on the processing of regolith or other in-situ resources are not within the scope of this workshop, as they are addressed in other ESA events.