International collaboration meeting of the S4M project at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)
Representatives of Turku University of Applied Sciences visited Hamburg on 6–7 November 2025 as part of the S4M project (Sustainable Material Management Maturity Model). The visit to Hamburg was a key component of the project’s international cooperation, aimed at deepening the research partnership with the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) and advancing joint project planning.
This two‑day meeting continued the research collaboration that began in early 2025 at the start of the S4M project. Previous discussions had taken place online via Teams, so the visit provided the first opportunity for in‑person dialogue and a more extensive exchange on collaboration possibilities. The discussions strengthened the project’s international research cooperation and created new opportunities for the Industrial Management research group and, more broadly, for Turku UAS’s RDI activities.
Programme and Progress of the Visit
The visit began on Thursday 6 November 2025, when the Turku UAS delegation arrived around midday at Hamburg Airport and continued by metro directly to the TUHH campus. The day opened with a joint lunch at the university cafeteria (Mensa), followed by an introduction session. Both organisations presented their research profiles and operating environments, forming a solid basis for further discussions.
TUHH’s research focus areas were presented by Professor, DSc Thorsten Blecker, whose talk highlighted the university’s strong expertise in industrial production, logistics and production systems. From Turku UAS, LicSc Teppo Neuvonen introduced the key priorities of Turku UAS and its Industrial Management research groups. During the afternoon, DSc Heli Aramo‑Immonen presented the S4M project’s state‑of‑the‑art, theoretical background, development phase and research objectives. The discussions emphasised the importance of collaboration particularly in relation to material flow sustainability, capability assessment of organisations, and data‑driven decision‑making.
Friday 7 November 2025 was a workshop day focusing on further developing the S4M project and preparing joint research initiatives. The workshop opened with a presentation of Arpita Prayag’s Master’s thesis, which is closely linked to the outcomes and development areas of the S4M project, especially material flow management and waste analysis.
The workshop continued with discussions on research collaboration opportunities. Several funding calls suitable for joint preparation were identified, including the EUREKA SMART 9th Call for Projects, Horizon Europe–CL5‑2026‑06‑Two‑Stage‑D5‑10, the Waterborne SIG theme “Shipyards of the Future”, as well as a combined Business X.0 and EIT AI‑InnoScEnCE initiative targeting the EIT HEI Call 2025, specifically under the STEM topic. All these funding instruments provide excellent opportunities to expand the research and impact of the S4M project.
At the end of the workshop, the participants agreed to prepare a joint publication on the theme of Circular Manufacturing. The publication could serve as a basis for future collaborative research initiatives. The visit concluded in a very positive atmosphere, as the collaboration proved mutually beneficial and highly relevant to the S4M project.
Summary
The visit to Hamburg further strengthened the collaboration already underway and served as an important accelerator for expanding the international cooperation of the S4M project. The visit clearly laid the groundwork for joint activities in 2026 and highlighted significant opportunities for preparing applications for Horizon Europe, EUREKA SMART, and EIT funding.
Author: Janne Siivonen
Industrial Management Research Group
Participants from Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)
- Professor, DSc Thorsten Blecker
- MSc/PhD Student Chema Abdennadher
- Researcher, PhD Osman Mohamed
- Researcher, DSc Olena Soltmann
Participants from Turku University of Applied Sciences
- DSc Heli Aramo‑Immonen, S4M Project Director
- LicSc Teppo Neuvonen, Research Group Leader
- MSc/PhD Student Janne Siivonen, S4M WP3 Leader