As America Makes continues to cultivate public-private partnerships around 3D printing technology, the USA’s original additive manufacturing institute has announced, in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and 3D Systems, the aware of three new grants to universities pursuing researching surrounding 3D printing. With grants funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and America Makes, the universities funded will be conducting their research with 3D Systems.
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Lehigh University have been awarded funds to pursue at least 13 projects, two of which are the development of complex, multi-material 3D printing and 3D printed medical instrumentation for knee and hip replacement, which will benefit from 3D Systems’ own 3D healthcare technology and the company’s work with personalized medicine.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett spoke at the 3D Systems 3D printing facility in Langhorne, Pennsylvania on August 15, saying, “Pennsylvania is known for making products for the world, and to remain competitive, we must ensure our policies support the technology and innovation of the 21st century. By supporting this collaborative initiative, we will tap the best and brightest from two of Pennsylvania’s many prestigious universities to help our manufacturers remain leaders in the global economy.”
3D Systems’ Vice President for Aerospace and Defense Jim Williams said of the projects awarded, “These institutions’ proposals and project concepts were groundbreaking. With these grants, CMU and Lehigh will not only be making key contributions to the medical and scientific communities, but fostering technological innovation throughout Pennsylvania as well. We are delighted to support this effort.”
CMU has received a $1 million Discovered in PA – Developed in PA (D2PA) grant through state’s Research for Additive Manufacturing in Pennsylvania (RAMP) program, created in 2012 to spur innovation amongst local manufacturers. Lehigh’s $1 million grant comes from America Makes itself. An additional $1 million from private industry will also go to the universities to pursue their research.
