PMEXCEL kicked off in Chantilly

On 12–13 May 2026, the PMEXCEL consortium met in person for the first time at the project’s official kick-off meeting.

With some exception, that was dealt with by organising also he remote connection for those who could not travel to the meeting, the consortium gathered in Chantilly, France, where the project coordinator, EPMA, hosted the event and welcomed participants to the town where its offices are based.

Although the project officially started in 1^st April and partners had already met online a few days after to launch the first activities and prepare the meeting, the gathering in Chantilly offered the first opportunity for everyone to work together face to face.

Over one and a half days, partners discussed the project’s objectives, priorities and next steps in detail. Work package leaders presented their plans, consortium members exchanged ideas, and productive discussions helped turn the project’s vision into a concrete roadmap for the months ahead.

PMEXCEL has an ambitious mission: to support high-quality education and skills development in powder metallurgy. With a broad range of topics to cover and innovative learning opportunities to create, the consortium carefully reviewed the first stages of work and aligned on the path forward.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to select the project’s visual identity! Consortium members reviewed several proposals and chose the logo and branding that now represent PMEXCEL across the website, social media channels and communication materials.

Of course, the programme was not limited to meetings and presentations. Partners also enjoyed a dinner together in a traditional French restaurant, where tasting the famous Chantilly cream was a must. These informal moments are just as important as the working sessions, helping partners get to know each other, build trust and establish the strong relationships needed for a successful collaboration over the coming years.

The next consortium meeting is planned for December 2026 and will be hosted by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona, Spain.

In the meantime, the PMEXCEL partners are fully engaged in delivering the project’s first results. We look forward to sharing our progress, achievements and upcoming opportunities through this website and our social media channels.

Follow PMEXCEL and stay tuned for more updates as the project journey begins!