Some delicious news is cooking as 3D Systems today announced a partnership with The Culinary Institute of America (the good CIA) to give faculty and students access to the company’s food 3D printing technology. The partnership will see 3DS and the CIA set up a series of educational collaborations and a beta program surrounding 3DS’ food printing pride and joy, the ChefJet Pro.
The duo’s collaboration will begin with a series of conferences and seminars for members of the CIA community at CIA campuses. On top of that, CIA students will be able to apply for fellowships and internships at 3DS’ sugar printing HQ, The Sugar Lab in Los Angeles.
3DS President and CEO, Avi Reichental, says of the new partnership, “Our collaboration with the CIA provides the culinary community with a unique opportunity to explore and experience the open-ended possibilities of fusing 3D food printing with traditional culinary arts. Together we plan to advance culinary arts through education, exploration, and experimentation by introducing 3D printing into the professional kitchen.”
3D Systems has been working on what they call a “hybrid digital kitchen” and event space in Los Angeles, “located in”, according to the company’s press release, “one of [the city’s] up-and-coming cuisine corridors” (possibly near the Sugar Lab?). The center, which will be open to the public in spring of 2015, will feature the company’s food printers, which culinary artists of all types will be invited to experiment with the new technology. 3DS also plans to host symposiums, master-classes, and events for those in the hospitality, event, and culinary fields. The center will also act as a manufacturing hub for the company to produce more printed foods through Cubify.
President of the CIA, Dr. Tim Ryan, added his thoughts on the deal, “Through our partnership with 3D Systems, The Culinary Institute of America will elevate 3D printing technology by integrating it into our curriculum so that current CIA students, alumni, and culinary professionals can have access to this new platform in the future. I am excited to see how this technology will open opportunities to chefs as they explore its creative, design, and functional capabilities using new techniques that will integrate 3D printing into the professional kitchen.”
As beta testing begins with the CIA, 3D Systems has announced when the (~$10,000) ChefJet Pro will actually be available to the public: the second half of 2015. With the opening of their digital kitchen, the full-color food certified printer will attract a lot more attention, regardless of its release date. If you happen to be heading to CES next week, you’ll be able to learn more about the partnership as the two will be hosting a press event on Wednesday, January 7 from 3–4 pm PST at the 3DS booth. Media that wish to attend can request to do so here.
