The 15^th Japan International SAMPE Symposium & Exhibition (organized by SAMPE^* JAPAN) was held in Tokyo on November 30, 2017 and Gifu University teams (three teams participated) won Second and Third Prize. The winners of Second Prize were also presented with Best Load Bearing Prize.

This competition is designed to offer an opportunity to students in enhancing their skills by creating a bridge made of composite materials. Students experience from designing to shaping a bridge all by themselves. Teams compete in intensity and strength of bridges made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), as well as creating posters highlighting materials used, creation methods and design policies.

Gifu University teams won the prizes for second year in a row.

The winning teams and their supervisors reported their victories to President Hisataka Moriwaki at the Office of President on December 18.

One of the students stated, "The biggest strength of Gifu University teams lies in flexible designing and production of metal die. We won the prize by strict weight reduction and significant reinforcement of the bridge. The two were the major challenges for the team in last years' competition." President Moriwaki congratulated on them and said, "Your enormous efforts to challenge the competition really paid off. I hope your juniors will succeed the technological expertise you all have accumulated over many years. I sincerely wish for a victory of Gifu University teams in global competitions in the near future.

^*SAMPE: Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering