The FRP++ Integration Week 2025 marked a milestone for the EMJM community: the fourth edition of this annual gathering, completing the full rotation across the programme’s partner countries. Hosted by the University of Girona (UdG) from November 24th to 28th, 2025, the week brought students, staff, and industry partners together for a rich blend of academic insight, hands-on experiences, and cultural discovery.
From the moment participants arrived in Girona — a city where medieval charm meets forward-looking research — the tone was set for a week of collaboration and exploration. The opening session, held at UdG’s School of Engineering, welcomed students with an engaging ice-breaker activity, building early connections that carried throughout the week.
The second day was dedicated to the culmination of Unit FRP++6 Assignment 1. Through focused work sessions in the morning and group presentations in the afternoon, students presented their analytical skills, defended their design strategies, and engaged in constructive technical discussions with the unit’s coordination team.
Mid-week, attention shifted from classroom collaboration to the industrial world. Participants visited Menzolit, a leading manufacturer of composite compounds, where they attended a seminar and toured the company’s production facilities. Returning to Girona, the group continued with a sequence of technical visits to AMADE labs and Compoxi, offering firsthand perspectives on advanced manufacturing, testing, and R&D in composite materials.
The fourth day featured two keynote lectures from distinguished experts shaping the future of composites research.
- Dr. Iryna Tretiak (University of Bristol) delivered an insightful session on Transforming Composite Manufacturing Using AI, highlighting the emerging role of artificial intelligence in defect prediction, material optimisation, and automated decision-making.
- Prof. Paolo Carraro (University of Padova) followed with Fatigue Damage in Composite Materials, providing an in-depth look at state-of-the-art modelling approaches and structural health monitoring strategies.
The day concluded with a closing ceremony and a guided tour through Girona’s historic downtown — a walk through ancient walls, narrow stone streets, and iconic viewpoints that underscored the city’s unique cultural character.
As students checked out and departed on the final morning, the Girona Integration Week stood not only as a successful standalone event, but as a symbolic capstone to the first full four-country cycle of FRP++ Integration Weeks: Naples (2022), Guimarães (2023), Toulouse (2024), and now Girona (2025). Each edition has brought its own identity, its own discoveries, and its own sense of community — and Girona continued that tradition with distinction.
The 2025 IW once again fulfilled its mission: to bring students together, deepen their understanding of composite materials, strengthen ties between academia and industry, and create lasting connections across borders.
A full description of the programme can be found in the event booklet here.
