Keynote Presentation
Shaping the Future, One Particle at a Time: NRC’s Journey and Vision in Powder Metallurgy
Eric Baril, Ph. D, FCAE
Director General, Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre at the National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has been at the forefront of materials innovation for decades, with powder metallurgy playing a pivotal role in delivering transformative solutions to industry. This presentation will highlight past contributions, showcase current R&D initiatives aimed at addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in the metal powder manufacturing and forming. Examples of initiatives include recycling used components into high‑quality additive manufacturing feedstock, the fabrication of permanent magnets for electric motors, and next-generation forming techniques for aerospace and automotive sectors. The presentation will outline the NRC’s vision for the future of powder metallurgy, where sustainability, digital manufacturing, and advanced material design converge through collaboration with industry, academia, and government to accelerate innovation.