Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University Opens New 3D Printing Research Centre

3D printing is growing all around the world. As business, education, and political leaders see the kinds of manufacturing changes that the technology ushers in, it opens up more opportunities for people who want to learn all about it and contribute to the technology’s rapid international growth. One recent example of this growth is in the Asia Pacific, where Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University(NTU) has opened up a new Singapore Centre for 3D Printing. Like other 3D printing centers, it is aimed at introducing the technology to an increasingly curious public that includes a business community set on also recommending new 3D printing industry standards and working together to build Singapore’s economy.

“The launch of the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing marks an exciting phase in the translation of leading 3D technologies into useful and practical solutions for industries. NRF will continue to support research projects that spin out innovative technologies that are relevant to the needs of our industries and create value for the economy,” said Prof Low Teck Seng, CEO, NRF.

Singapore is poised to be in the lead internationally in 3D printing, as it has government involved on the ground level of Singapore’s technology growth plans.  In the recent 2016 budget, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced the RIE 2020 Plan: this is short for the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 Plan that supports funding for 3D printing and additive manufacturing business and education initiatives. The new Singapore Centre for 3D Printing is funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore at S$42 million over the next ten years. According to the Centre’s website:

“The Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP) aims to become a world leader in 3D Printing and a wellspring of knowledge by attracting leading researchers to the Centre and nurturing a skilled talent pool, establishing strong linkages with and delivering state of the art and innovative solutions to the industry.”

Professor Lam Khin Yong, the NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President of Research, didn’t waste time getting business onboard with the Research Centre. At the Centre’s opening, he signed four collaboration agreements that reflect Singapore’s target areas for economic growth: the maritime, aerospace, and construction sectors. The companies collaborating with the Centre include: ST Engineering, Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre, Sembcorp Design and Construction, and Emerson Process Management.

“3D technology is set to revolutionise lives. The centre will focus for a start on the construction, maritime and aerospace sectors which are projected to be growth areas for Singapore’s economy,” said NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President of Research Prof Lam Khin Yong, who today, May 17th, signed the four new research collaboration agreements.

“At NTU, we have some of the world’s leading scientists and engineers in this field to research, develop and facilitate industry adoption of 3D printing applications to strengthen Singapore’s economy and better the lives of people. We aim to groom the next generation of 3D printing engineers so as to grow the much needed manpower for this rapidly developing sector,” said NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson.

The NTU collaboration with Emerson Process Management includes a joint laboratory and an additive manufacturing centre on-site at the company’s Singapore location. This global company, which serves twelve different industries including alternative energy, oil and gas, power, pulp and paper, and marine, is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The new collaborative agreement with the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing will surely boost the company’s presence in the Asia Pacific, which is exactly the plan for John Wilson, Vice President of Emerson Process Management, Asia Pacific. Wilson explains that this partnership with NTU “…will give Emerson access to the talents and resources to advance both our new product development and manufacturing technologies.”

Meanwhile, if you check out the Centre’s website, it is also creating amazing educational opportunities for Singapore students interested in studying emerging technologies, all the way through the doctoral level. Discuss further in the Singapore & 3D Printing forum over at 3DPB.com.