Santa Clara University Joins Multi-University NSF Grant to Advance “Recyclofacturing” and the Future of U.S. Manufacturing
(Santa Clara, Calif., September 18, 2025)—Santa Clara University has been named a core partner in a $2.999 million Future Manufacturing Research Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), positioning SCU as a key contributor to a national initiative aimed at transforming scrap metal recycling into local, tech-enabled manufacturing—an approach known as “recyclofacturing.”
Maria Kyrarini, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, along with Fatemeh Davoudi Kakhki, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University, is leading SCU’s involvement in a multi-university collaborative research effort. The project is led overall by Wright State University, in partnership with Santa Clara University, Chapman University, the University of Lynchburg, and Clarkson University. Working alongside Natasha Banerjee, Ph.D., and Sean Banerjee, Ph.D., associate professors in Wright State’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering and LexisNexis endowed co-chairs for advanced data science and engineering, Kyrarini and the team will integrate artificial intelligence, extended reality, and co-robotics
"Being part of such a large NSF grant is an excellent opportunity for Santa Clare University to collaborate with Wright State and our other partner institutions to shape the future of manufacturing in the US,” said Maria Kyrarini, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Santa Clara University. “This is an interdisciplinary award that brings together computer scientists, engineers, sociologists, economists, and stakeholders to create what we call ‘Recyclofacturing.’ ‘Recyclofacturing’ will provide an end-to-end solution that enables customers to request custom products that will be built by utilizing scrap metal, Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality, and Collaborative Robots.”
Santa Clara University’s contribution will focus on cutting-edge robotics and human-machine collaboration. Two SCU Ph.D. students will be supported through the grant, with research centered on:
- Dynamic task allocation between human and robot teams during assembly
- Robot learning of welding tasks
- Human factors assessment to ensure safe and effective collaboration
The initiative also includes a robust education and workforce development component. Community courses will introduce new tools and techniques to the public, while students across partner institutions will gain hands-on experience through research assistantships beginning in spring 2026.
The project’s broader goal is to revive local manufacturing across the U.S. by modernizing recycling facilities into fabrication hubs, equipping workers with immersive training tools and AI-driven design systems to produce custom goods from recycled materials.
For more information about the NSF Future Manufacturing Research Grant, visit nsf.gov.
About Santa Clara University's School of Engineering
Santa Clara University's School of Engineering, established in 1912, inspires and develops engineering leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion—entrepreneurial thinkers who will build a more just, humane, and sustainable world. Offering a range of degree programs and situated in Silicon Valley, the School serves as a vibrant hub for research, innovation, and collaboration with industry leaders.
About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit Catholic University in the epicenter of Silicon Valley, infusing ethics and social consciousness into a rigorous cross-disciplinary education for its nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Media Contact
Jose Diaz | Marketing Coordinator | jdiaz3@scu.edu | 408-554-5303