NTU launches new research centre for 3D printing

MINISTER for Trade and Industry S Iswaran on Tuesday launched Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) new Singapore Centre for 3D Printing. This new research centre will allow companies to tap new technologies in 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, and to study and recommend new industry standards for 3D printing.

Additive manufacturing - the way that three-dimensional objects are "printed" layer by layer by a machine - is part of Singapore's new research blueprint, the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan. The RIE 2020 plan was announced by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in the recent Budget 2016.

The centre is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore under its Medium-Sized Centre Grant at a funding of S$42 million over 10 years.

At the launch, NTU chief of staff and vice-president of research Lam Khin Yong also signed four new research collaboration agreements with ST Engineering, Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre, Sembcorp Design and Construction, and Emerson Process Management.

"The centre will focus - for a start - on the construction, maritime and aerospace sectors which are projected to be growth areas for Singapore's economy," said Prof Lam.

NTU's partnership with Emerson Process Management will see the creation of a joint laboratory and an additive manufacturing centre at their Singapore facility.

"Partnering NTU will give Emerson access to the talents and resources to advance both our new product development and manufacturing technologies," said John Wilson, vice-president of Emerson Process Management Asia Pacific.