TU Researcher Honored for Sustainable 3D Printing
Professor Dr. Inka Mai was appointed junior professor in 2023 and heads the Chair of Robot-Assisted Manufacturing of the Built Environment at the Institute of Civil Engineering at TU Berlin. © TU Berlin/Kevin Fuchs
A young researcher from Berlin's Technische Universität is making waves in the construction industry with her groundbreaking work on robot-assisted 3D printing. Dr. Inka Mai, 35, recently received the €10,000 "Nachwuchspreis" of the prestigious Berliner Wissenschaftspreis 2024 for her innovative approach to sustainable building.
Mai's research focuses on robot-assisted additive manufacturing using concrete and alternative materials like clay. Her work addresses critical challenges facing today's construction industry: skilled worker shortages, material scarcity, and excessive carbon emissions. According to information from TU Berlin's press release, her methods represent a fundamental shift toward more sustainable, resource-efficient building practices.
The civil engineer, who heads the Chair of Robot-Assisted Manufacturing of the Built Environment at TU Berlin, has developed several breakthrough processes. Her injection 3D concrete printing enables the production of delicate concrete components while saving resources. Even more impressive is her large particle 3D concrete printing technique, which reduces carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to conventional methods.
"Using robots specifically for certain tasks allows manufacturers to use material only where it is needed for structural stability," explains the research approach. This precision dramatically increases construction efficiency while minimizing waste – exactly what Berlin's growing urban landscape needs.
Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner praised Mai's work as positioning the city "as a center of research excellence in the global arena." The award ceremony took place at the Rotes Rathaus in July 2025.
Mai's interdisciplinary research combines digital technologies, modern robotics, and environmentally conscious construction methods. Her vision of digitalized, sustainable building processes could help transform an industry that's still adapting to climate change challenges and the demands of modern urbanization.