Looking back to last year, Rocco Lupoi, Associate Professor within the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, served on the judging panel for the Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2025. As co-founder of the Science and Technology in Advanced Manufacturing research group at TCD, Lupoi brought a research profile that placed him among the most cited and recognised figures in advanced manufacturing globally.

Lupoi's research focused on additive manufacturing and coatings, with particular expertise in innovative manufacturing processes involving metallic powders and lasers. With over 190 published papers and numerous active grants, his body of work represented a sustained and substantial contribution to the scientific understanding of next-generation manufacturing technologies. He ranked within the top 2% of scientists worldwide in a science-wide author database of standardised citation indicators, a distinction that underscored both the quality and impact of his research output.

His standing within the international research community was further reflected in a series of prestigious fellowships. Lupoi was elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 2019 and nominated Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in 2022. As a funded investigator in AMBER and I-Form, two of Ireland's leading research centres, he contributed to programmes that directly advanced the application of materials science and manufacturing engineering in industrial settings.

His nomination as an associate member of the International Academy of Production Engineering further cemented his position as a recognised authority within global manufacturing research circles.

His involvement in the Manufacturing Excellence Awards reinforced the programme's commitment to evaluation grounded in world-class technical expertise and a deep understanding of where manufacturing innovation is heading.

Visit the official Manufacturing Excellence Awards website to explore award categories, review the judging panel, and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and exclusive coverage from Ireland's manufacturing sector.