CDMM was created according to international standards to meet the high demands for advanced manufacturing, design, and production technologies by application of fundamental science and engineering principles. The main research interests are focused on the development and implementation of new simulation-driven design and manufacturing paradigms and on the creation of advanced, sustainable, and reliable materials, structures, and engineering systems with enhanced lifecycle, mechanical and physical characteristics demanded in high-tech industries

CDMM strategic objectives are focused on research, education and innovation around the set of selected key thrust areas of advanced manufacturing (materials, technologies, processes, digital engineering and management): Polymer-based Composite Materials, 3D-Printing Technologies, Thermal Spray Processes, Digital Design and Manufacturing, and Product Lifecycle Management. The following strategic objectives have been set:

1. perform cutting-edge basic and applied research in the key thrust areas of advanced manufacturing.
2. educate the next generation of researchers, engineers, and practitioners to assume a role of technical leadership in research and innovation of high-tech sector.
3. create business opportunities in the key thrusts areas of advanced manufacturing in the form of advisory services, centers of collective use services, industry-funded research, and new enterprises.

Since its inception in 2015, the CDMM made continuous and substantial progress in achieving its strategic objectives. Several excellent faculty, researchers, and postdoctoral students have been recruited. Five research laboratories have been established at CDMM: Composite Materials and Structures Laboratory, Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, Mechanical Testing and Materials Characterization Laboratory, Information Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, and Micro- and Nano-Mechanics Laboratory.

Two synergetic educational programs have been developed and fully accredited: Master’s program in Advanced and Digital Engineering Technologies and PhD program in Mechanics. Full curriculum for these programs consisting of 20 MSc and PhD level courses, taught by CDMM faculty, is developed. The number of PhD(MS) students has steadily grown from 6(8) in 2016/17 AY and 11(18) in 2017/18 AY to 17(32) in AY 2018/19.

Several R&D initiatives and industrial projects are launched and/or executed by the Center with two highly visible professional advisory services initiatives currently going through evaluation by the National Technology Initiative office (Technet) with the funding planned for 2018-2020.