A stent made using 3D printing technology. Provided by Mechanical Research Institute.
In order to create a market for 3D (3D) printing technology, the government supports on-site demonstrations of industrial parts and builds a 3D printing test bed for buildings. The ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center’ will be established to support the clinical demonstration of technology development for commercialization of 3D printing medical devices and to support the development of manufacturing innovation processes. For this, it was decided to invest 9.83 billion won this year.
The government announced on the 4th that the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy have jointly prepared the ‘2021 3D Printing Industry Promotion Implementation Plan’ that contains such details. This implementation plan is a strategy for the second year of the ‘2nd Basic Plan for the Promotion of 3D Printing Industry’ established in accordance with the 3D Printing Industry Promotion Act in effect in December 2016.
First, the government will discover Korean success cases and accelerate the use of industrial sites so that the results of investment in 3D printing technology can lead to expansion of private investment and promotion of technology diffusion. It is planning to support the demonstration through on-site demonstration of industrial parts, develop 3D printing technology for buildings, and build a test bed. It also supports clinical demonstration of technology development for commercialization of medical devices. The budget set for accelerating the use of industrial sites is 21.4 billion won.
This year, a budget of 23.28 billion won will be invested to self-sufficiency and secure technology for core materials, equipment, and software. It develops ultra-lightweight and functional next-generation materials and supports the development of elemental technologies and platform technologies for localization of core software.
It was decided to invest 52.1 billion won in upgrading the industrial base with the aim of improving the legal system and strengthening safety, such as cultivating professional talents, upgrading the infrastructure and technology standards and evaluation system for manufacturing innovation and corporate growth. It operates a university degree program for 3D printing-based convergence professionals and promotes the training of master’s and doctoral-level personnel in the field of new materials.
In particular, it will establish and operate the ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center’ that supports the development of manufacturing innovation processes and the ‘3D Printing Manufacturing Process Support Center’ in connection with local specialized industries.
Lee Seung-won, Minister of Information and Communication Industry Policy Officer of the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “We are strategically pursuing demand discovery, human resource development, technology development, and infrastructure advancement so that 3D printing technology can serve as a new growth engine and a starting point for innovation in the era of digital transformation.” Plans to focus on promoting measures to expand the industrial ecosystem and strengthen the safety of 3D printing use.”