Further details of GE’s $10 million education fund to encourage the use of 3D printing have been announced.
The U.S. company states that more than 400 schools will receive 3D printers as part of the GE Additive Education Program.
The 3D printing education program is part of what GE describes as, “developing pipelines of future talent in additive manufacturing around the world.” Under the program around 180,000 students will gain access to a range of 3D printing systems.
$10 million education fund for 3D printing
As previously reported in January, GE Additive has committed to a $10 million global expenditure on the program over the next years. This figure can be further analyzed between $8 million for metal additive manufacturing machines and $2 million for desktop 3D printers.
Primary and secondary schools taking part in the program can expect to receive a Polar 3D printer and a machine made by XYZPrinting. GE Additive says that the package also includes, “Polar 3D’s STEAMtrax curriculum with a two-year license, six rolls of filament for each printer and one of the STEAMtrax module kits, Tinkering with Turbines.”
The following eight universities will receive a Concept Laser MLAB cusing 100R metal additive manufacturing system.
- Auburn University
- Boston University
- Iowa State University
- North Carolina State University
- Ohio State University
- University of Cincinnati
- University of New South Wales
- U.S. Naval Academy
The Concept Laser MLAB cusing 100R metal 3D printer is valued at $250,000. GE acquired Concept Laser as part of the largest takeover deal in the 3D printing industry to date.
Mohammad Ehteshami, vice president of GE Additive, explains, “Additive manufacturing and 3D printing is revolutionizing the way we think about designing and manufacturing products. We want a pipeline of engineering talent that have additive in their DNA. This education program is our way of supporting that goal.”
The 3D printers will be delivered to participating schools later this year and the company plans to provide more machines to education institutions over the next four years.
Earlier this month 3D Printing Industry readers voted GE Additive as the leading financier in the industry as part of the 2017 3D Printing Industry Awards.
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Featured image shows GE Additive posters at Formnext 2016. Photo by Michael Petch.
