A new initiative has launched, hoping to uncover new 3D printing technological advances. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute will operate as a sponsor for selected research projects that address gaps in our knowledge of 3D printing. The program runs during August, much like Google’s Summer of Code program.
The program is hosted by the department of Bioengineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas, who will provide the researchers with access to a 1,000 sf state-of-the-art laboratory.
The program is sponsored by a combination of academic and industry participants – and also donations.
This year four projects have already begun:
- Andreas Bastian – “3D Printing via laser-sintering of thermoplastic powders”
- Steve Kelly – “Ink-jet printing of genetically modified living bacteria”
- Anderson Ta – “Digital light projection (DLP) photolithography of plastics and hydrogels”
- Ravi Sheth – “Bacterial cellstruder for synthetic biology studies”
It appears there’s a focus on bioprinting, which is still an emerging technological area requiring research.
We applaud this initiative, as we suspect it will bring benefits to the 3D printing community in a manner similar to the benefits Google has had with their Summer of Code program.
Via RepRap
