Singapore: New 3D Printing Initiative, National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster, Announced at TechInnovation

Recently at Singapore’s TechInnovation, the world learned about a new entity that will be working to promote 3D printing further worldwide. To be named the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), those leading this new organization hail from Nanyang Technological University. They will be partnering also with groups from the National University of Singapore and Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Nanyang Technological University

Certainly no strangers to being hands-on in the world of 3D printing, we’ve followed students at Nanyang as they have been involved in everything from building solar powered vehicles with 3D printed bodies to 3D printed water filtration devices, as well as exploring 3D printed apparel and items relevant to contests sponsored by the University.

3D printing is hot in Singapore for sure, having been already targeted as one of four very specific areas the government plans to work on developing even further. In 2013, the Innovation Cluster Programme was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, with a budget of $200 million.

With a strong and dynamic focus on 3D printing, the University now will work within the cluster to keep encouraging innovators and designers as they are involved in projects like creating startups as well as spinoffs from other businesses.

They will also help with:

• Commercialization of intellectual property
• Access to startup incubators
• Establishing a joint fund to support ‘translational projects’ between entities.

“Namic will translate related upstream research in Singapore’s public research entities and institutes of higher learning into downstream commercial applications, lowering the barriers for companies to incorporate additive manufacturing technologies into their core business and manufacturing processes,” said S Iswaran, Second Minister for Trade and Industry, speaking at the opening of TechInnovation.

TechInnovation is a technology-industry brokerage event organized by the Intellectual Property Intermediary. At this recent event, held in Singapore, industry and technology were matched up in a marketplace meant to push forward:

• Commercialization of emerging technologies
• Seed licensing opportunities
• Open innovation collaborations

Known as the largest event in the country focusing on matching needs within industry with invention and innovation from areas like electronics, manufacturing, energy and more, the TechInnovation venue offers a glimpse into hundreds of emerging technologies, and also features a host of various exhibitors. It’s a great opportunity for corporations and businesses both to show off their innovations as well as learn about new ones, and attend pitches, business meetings, and more.

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