ERFURT, Germany, Jan 16, 2024 – For the ninth time, the 3D Pioneers Challenge, the international competition and platform for additive manufacturing, calls for entries. The 3DPC2024 seeks for creative innovations with long-term appeal, as well as operational projects that drive the implementation of additive technologies in the established manufacturing industry.
The international competition will be hosted at Messe Erfurt, which will give additive technologies a stage for the 20th time from 14 to 16 May 2024 and provide significant impulses for the sector of AM.
FOCUS 3DPC2024, Collaborative Mindset
Cutting-edge processes, materials and procedures are creating ground-breaking applications in Additive Manufacturing and thus offering chances for the economy, industry and sustainability, for a responsible production.
Implementation in the established manufacturing industry however demands a “collaborative mindset” – the mutual, open attitude of working cooperatively and courageously towards common goals. Where are realistic applications in the industry and what best practices are already in progress?
This open mindset becomes apparent in the convergence of advanced technologies. When robotics, smart materials, cloud technologies or blockchain interact with additive processes, this leads to disruptive concepts and sharpens the focus for strategy changes and pave the way for meaningful advancements.
A gaze upon the impressively vibrant developments in Artificial Intelligence, such as automated image generation, provides a glimpse of the possible when AI generates three-dimensional products that are then translated from the digital to the real world through additive processes.
The 3D Pioneers Challenge seeks and supports the pioneers pursuing these ground-breaking approaches.
The contest calls for entries in eleven verticals, which derived from the questions “WHAT, HOW and WHY… we design and make”. For 2024, these are the categories Design, Digital, Architecture, FashionTech, Materials, MedTech, Mobility, Electronics, Machinery, Industrial and Sustainability. In line with the ongoing growth of the 3D printing industry towards industrial applications, the new Industrial category opens up precisely in this direction.
Submission closes 11 March 2024.
Awards
Participants can look forward to prizes totaling over €175.000. This makes the 3D Pioneers Challenge one of the world’s most highly endowed competitions for innovation, additive manufacturing processes and pioneering technologies.
The prize money of €35,000 is provided by the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs Science and Digital Society.
The “Main Winner” wins the “3DPC Trophy”. The limited edition design object was created especially for the 3DPC in cooperation with Designer Ross Lovegrove, Hyperganic and Materialise.
Prizes will be provided in the “Digital Tools” area to further develop the contributions and take them to the next level.
Two winners get “nTop Full versions” design software licences from nTopology.
The “Best Industrial Project” will be awarded a “Software & Consulting Package” from 3YOURMIND.
CASTOR awards the “Sustainability benefit- award”. The winner will receive training from CASTOR and access to the CASTOR software for a sustainability analysis of his applications.
The “Best Start-Up” wins a customised coaching with AM Ventures, the leading venture capital fund in industrial 3D printing. Their team provides input on “pitch coaching”, “business model” or “scaling”.
One winner can look forward to “Meet the Experts” with 10xDNA, an expert discussion with Paul Schmidt and Frank Thelen.
Autodesk, the 3DPC long-term partner, recognizes excellence under the scope of „Special Mention by Autodesk Technology Centers“ by providing the opportunity for three winners to join the Autodesk Technology Centers Outsight Network – a global community of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and researchers building future-focused technology.
Avedition, the publishing house for architecture and design, rounds off the prize packages with their inspiring book prizes.
During the application period, submitters can once again benefit from the “Special Feature by nTopology”. This means that nTopology is making its platform for forward-looking design and engineering software available free of charge. With this innovative tool, ideas and concepts for the competition can be realised and taken to the next level. Accompanying tutorials are offered by nTop. With this cooperation, 3DPC starts early in the process chain and wants to support education.
Exhibition and Award Ceremony
The finalists and winning projects will be exhibited in the special 3DPC area at Rapid.Tech3D. The award ceremony will take place as a highlight on the second day of the trade fair.
In two decades, Rapid.Tech 3D has developed into a leading trade event for additive manufacturing in Central Europe. The pioneering event of the AM scene offers a coherent triad of congress program, exhibition events and networking opportunities. From May 14 to 16, 2024, Rapid.Tech 3D will give additive technologies a stage for the 20th time.
JURY and PARTNER
Participants have the opportunity to present their ideas and projects to the competition’s network of partners and jury. The international partners and jury members are characterised by their diverse perspectives, which helps to comprehensively reflect the quality and range of the award – in line with the eleven disciplines announced Until the award ceremony, the submitted entries are reviewed by the 30 jurors. The judges look beyond the horizon of 3D printing and contribute their expertise and experience from science, industry, politics, design, the press and sustainability. This mix of experts from inside and outside the sector of new technologies helps to ensure a multi-faceted assessment. The internationality of the jury members helps in the evaluation of the worldwide submissions.
In 2024, new partners will also contribute jury members, including Ralf Anderhofstadt (Daimler Truck) and Brian Ingold (HP), as well as Martin Back (BASF- Forward AM) acting as an interface to the industry. Sherri Monroe from AMGTA supports the focus on sustainability. Other partners include FKM Sintertechnik with the juror Dr. Dirk Simon, the media platform Voxelmatters and the innovation hub for additive technologies from Barcelona, IAM3DHUB.
Participation is free of charge for “students”, “start-ups” and exhibitors of Rapid.Tech 3D.
All information for entrants, the formalities as well as the online application and registration are available at:www.3dpc.io.
About Rapid.Tech 3D
In two decades, has developed into a leading trade event for additive manufacturing (AM) in Central Europe. The pioneering event of the AM scene offers a coherent triad of congress program, exhibition events and networking opportunities. The centerpiece is the multifaceted technical congress, where international experts from industry and research present the latest developments and applications, from the fields of mobility, aerospace, mechanical engineering, as well as chemistry and process engineering. In addition to established suppliers and users of industrial 3D printing technology and services, the accompanying trade exhibition will also feature start-ups and innovative research projects. From May 14 to 16, 2024, Rapid.Tech 3D will give additive technologies a stage for the 20th time.
About 3D Pioneers Challenge
The international competition for Additive Manufacturing processes and Advanced Technologies is the most prestigious award of its kind and is one of the most highly endowed worldwide. The annual announcement and presentation of the finalists is considered to be the innovation monitor of the industry. Unique in its structure, the competition has been addressing specialists who think outside the box since 2015 – pushing boundaries! For more information, visit www.3dpc.io.
3DPC Platform
The Challenge has become a platform with a global network and is an interface for creative future-makers, pioneers of advanced technologies and innovators from research and industry.
3DPC & Friends
Under the umbrella of 3DPC & Friends, 3DPC brings together the creative minds and high-tech pioneers of the 3DPC platform in an interdisciplinary way, resulting in new, ground-breaking projects in which everyone can contribute and live out their expertise – design rethought! The 3DPC shows today what tomorrow will bring – pushing boundaries.