The Minister for Science and Innovation Steven Joyce has placed 3D printing in the frame for government funding as part of its Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge.
Callaghan Innovation will host the challenge, with initial funding of $32.92m.
3D funder: the Minister for Science and Innovation Steven Joyce
Joyce says, “The Challenge will spearhead cutting-edge technological research for the benefit of New Zealand industries. It will aim to enhance New Zealand’s capacity to use physical and engineering sciences for economic growth with an emphasis on new materials, new manufacturing processes, robotics, automation and analytics.
He says that a key research initiative will work with New Zealand-originated biopolymers to create new, plastic-like materials suitable for 3D printing. He says, “Biopolymers use natural products, and so they can be difficult to work with. Solving this problem means biological waste could be used for 3-D printing of a huge array of manufactured products, from engine components to furniture.”
The Challenge will involve three Crown research institutes and eight universities, all collaborating with businesses. The minister adds,
“We live in an environment where new technologies emerge every day, which will rapidly change and shape how we do business. To take best advantage of this, we must drive New Zealand’s culture of innovation forward, beyond the immediate commercial horizon.”
Several companies are already reselling 3D printers in New Zealand, including Ricoh and Fuji Xerox.
The science challenge research will initially focus on four areas: new manufacturing technologies and materials, such as biopolymers – using natural products to create materials like plastics; sensor technologies, for example to map groundwater flow, which has useful applications for agriculture; medical technologies for more personalised treatment of chronic disease, with a focus on diabetes; and data analytics that provide cloud-based decision tools for industry.
Joyce says the challenge will see businesses involved in the research process earlier on. He says, “The work of the Challenge will also complement the broader work of Callaghan Innovation, by considering ways to grow the New Zealand economy through closer relationships between the science and business sectors.”
Designed to tackle the biggest science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand, each science challenge includes both new funding and funds that will become available as current research contracts directly related to each challenge mature. The new challenge money comprises $133.5m over four years allocated in Budgets 2012 and 2013, and continuing funding of $30.5m per year thereafter.
