The Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR 2025), held at the University of Birmingham, UK, from 10–12 September 2025, present peer-reviewed technical contributions from researchers across a broad spectrum of advanced and digital manufacturing systems, technologies, and management. The conference provides an international forum for the dissemination of the latest research findings, the exchange of ideas, and the promotion of collaboration within the manufacturing research community. Reflecting the breadth and diversity of the field, the articles in these Proceedings cover topics ranging from sustainable manufacturing systems and technologies to the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in manufacturing.

Established by the Consortium of UK University Manufacturing and Engineering Heads (COMEH), ICMR has been the UK's leading manufacturing research conference for 38 years and has been held as an international conference since 2003.

These Proceedings constitute the inaugural volume in the ICMR conference series to be published in Springer Nature's Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr Mozafar Saadat is with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, at the University of Birmingham, UK. He received his Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Surrey and his PhD in Industrial Automation from the University of Durham. His research interests include automation, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing, with particular emphasis on autonomous remanufacturing and medical robotics. He has secured research funding from the European Union, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, and industry. Dr Saadat has authored more than 180 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers, supervised more than 30 PhD students to completion, and developed innovative technologies that have led to the establishment of a medical robotics start-up company in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). His work has also resulted in three patents, two of which have been granted in the UK, the European Union, and the USA.