Singapore Welcomes $ 30 Million 3D Printing Centre

Source: www.3dprinting.com

Good news for Singapore’s 3D printing community: the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has launched a 3D printing research centre yesterday. It’s a $ 30 million centre, which will be used to search for new ways of implementing 3D printing into medical fields and fields of construction. In other words, a golden age of bioprinting and 3D printed buildings is yet to come for Singapore?

There is a good chance for it, as this new centre will focus on 3D printing human tissue and several biomedical devices. The NTU said one of these biomedical fields will be about regrowing bone by using scaffolds. The Economic Development Board (EDB) supported the centre, and it has also signed several agreements with 3D printing companies in order to develop 3D printed products for their own sectors. In addition, it is currently in discussion with more parties. The name of the centre will be NTU Additive Manufacturing Centre (NAMC).

The centre also signed a $ 5 million laboratory agreement with SLM solutions. This German company is a leading 3D printing manufacturer, which develops 3D printers that will be able to print larger products than the regular 3D prints available today. As you might expect, this agreement can help at the field of construction to mass-produce 3D printed houses. The parties will also work together to develop new materials, composites and 3D printing techniques. The lab will be called SLM Solutions@NAMC.

NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson called 3D printing a revolutionary technology that is changing the face of innovation. “Although we are a young university, NTU is already leading with two decades of research and development in this field,” he said. “Our new additive manufacturing centre not only aims to collaborate with industry to develop innovative, practical solutions but also brings together the best talents in the field. The new centre is outfitted with the latest 3D printing machines, such as laser-aided machines for printing metal parts for industry and bio-printers which are able to print real human tissue.”

It’s the university’s goal to keep Singapore at the forefront of 3D printing technologies. Time will tell whether or not they will be able to compete with innovating countries in Europa and the United States, but this 3D printing centre will surely be a step in the right direction for Singapore.

Image Sourcce: NTU