Singapore launches cluster for 3D printing

A NEW cluster that will boost the nation's efforts in developing 3D-printing capabilities for the manufacturing sector was unveiled on Tuesday at TechInnovation, a technology-industry brokerage event organised by the Intellectual Property Intermediary.

The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (Namic), as it is called, will be led by the Nanyang Technological University, in partnership with the National University of Singapore and Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Speaking at the opening of TechInnovation, S Iswaran, Second Minister for Trade and Industry, said: "Namic will translate related upstream research in Singapore's public research entities and institutes of higher learning into downstream commercial applications, lowering the barriers for companies to incorporate additive manufacturing technologies into their core business and manufacturing processes."

The cluster will also help startups and spinoffs with the commercialisation of intellectual property, including access to incubators, and establish a joint fund to support translational projects between research institutes and industry practitioners.

Additive manufacturing is one of four tech areas identified for development under the S$200 million Innovation Cluster Programme announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in October 2013.