Editorial: The launch of 4D printing: embracing time in additive manufacturing

In the history of manufacturing, there are moments that redefine the trajectory of innovation and catalyze the emergence of entirely new paradigms. The introduction of four-dimensional (4D) printing stands among such moments, representing not a mere evolutionary step beyond three-dimensional (3D) printing, but a shift in the way we think, design and fabricate functional structures. Where 3D printing brought mass customization, 4D printing introduces multi-functionality: a capacity for materials and structures to morph, self-heal or adapt/react autonomously in response to external stimuli. It is the introduction of time as an active design parameter that distinguishes 4D printing and propels it into the vanguard of additive manufacturing.The academic and industrial communities have shown extraordinary interest in this emerging field over the past decade. We have witnessed exponential growth in research activities, conference symposia, doctoral dissertations and pilot-scale industrial applications, from deployable aerospace morphologies to bio-responsive medical scaffolds and self-adjusting architectural facades. Yet despite this proliferation, the 4D printing research has remained scattered across disparate domains, often embedded as outliers in journals focused on materials science, robotics, mechanical engineering, chemistry or biomedical engineering, implying the absence of a central dedicated platform to consolidate and accelerate dissemination of findings specific to 4D printing.In this context, the launch of 4D Printing, the first international journal dedicated exclusively to this field, marks a pivotal development. The journal has been designed as a dedicated and rigorous platform to capture the depth and breadth of this interdisciplinary science and technology. It aims to consolidate the intellectual capital of researchers working on time-programmable materials, stimuli-responsive mechanisms, bioinspired motion, intelligent morphologies, and the computational frameworks that enable such innovations. More than just a publishing venue, 4D Printing aspires to be a community – an academic commons that bridges the boundaries between materials scientists, engineers, physicists, biologists and computer scientists.The scientific and technological promise of 4D printing is vast. At its core is the fusion of smart materials and additive manufacturing techniques, which opens up possibilities for creating systems that evolve post-fabrication. These may involve shape-memory materials that recover their form upon heating, hydrogels that expand or contract in response to hydration or thermo-electro-magnetic composites that reorient under external fields. Yet, the potential of 4D printing lies not only in responsive behavior but also in programmability during the manufacturing, wherein the response is precisely engineered into the structure and function from the design phase.Equally transformative is the growing integration of artificial intelligence-augmented additive manufacturing (AI2AM) into the design and control of 4D-printed systems. AI algorithms are increasingly used to optimize topologies for motion, predict material behaviors and dynamically adjust printing parameters in real time. Closed-loop 4D printing systems – wherein sensors, processors and actuators are integrated into the print process – are becoming critical to the creation of autonomous, adaptive devices. In these complex systems, simulation and computational modeling serve as the connective links, integrating material behavior to structural outcome.Yet to realize this vision on a global scale, the community needs more than isolated breakthroughs. We need a sustained, integrated and internationally visible scholarly ecosystem. The 4D Printing journal is created to fill that role. It provides a venue not only for cutting-edge research articles and reviews but also for rapid communications that seed new ideas and foster collaboration across borders. Our aim is to accelerate the maturation of this field and support its transition from the laboratory to real-world applications.What distinguishes 4D Printing is not only its thematic focus but also its truly international and multidisciplinary editorial board. Comprising distinguished experts from North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, our board reflects the geographic and disciplinary diversity that characterizes the 4D printing landscape. From leaders in aerospace and mechanical design to pioneers in soft robotics, smart biomaterials, tissue engineering and digital manufacturing, the editorial team embodies the full spectrum of perspectives required to guide this field responsibly and rigorously. Their collective experience and scholarly insight ensure that the journal upholds the highest standards of peer review and intellectual integrity.As the founding editorial team, we are also mindful of the need to ensure inclusivity and accessibility. We welcome contributions from established and early-career researchers alike and encourage submissions that push the boundaries of the field. We are particularly interested in work that integrates experimentation and theory and that offers insights into sustainability, scalability and real-world deployment.We believe that the creation of this journal comes at a critical moment in the evolution of manufacturing, materials, and design. Global challenges – ranging from personalized medicine to sustainable infrastructure, from space exploration to energy efficiency – require responsive and reconfigurable systems that can sense, adapt and evolve. 4D printing offers a pathway toward such solutions, but only through deep scientific inquiry and broad collaboration. By serving as a nexus for such efforts, 4D Printing seeks to contribute meaningfully to both academic excellence and societal advancement.This inaugural issue reflects the breadth and depth of 4D printing research around the world. The articles presented here range from a review study on the fundamental investigations of 4D printing materials (Henriques et al., 2025) to application-driven studies, reconfigurable hydrogels (Hisham et al., 2025) and composite structures (Hoa, 2025). The contributions come from multiple continents, specifically Europe, Asia and North America, illustrating the field’s global resonance and collaborative ethos.We invite you to engage with the work, contribute your insights, and join us in shaping the future of this exciting discipline. As researchers, educators and innovators, we are not merely printing objects; we are shaping the advanced manufacturing future altogether.Welcome to 4D Printing.The Founding Editors:Ali ZolfagharianMahdi Bodaghi