Global competition in the 3D printing industry

In the increasingly fierce competition of globalization, all countries in the world are striving for their leading position in the world through investment and research and development of emerging high-tech fields. As a very representative and revolutionary new technology, 3D printing is highly valued by all countries in the world.

China

Yingchuang is the first high-tech enterprise that achieves 3D printing architecture. In March 2014, Yingchuang printed the first batch of 10 buildings in the world that can live and work in 3D printing. In January 2015, Yingchuang printed the world's highest 3D printing building "6 stories building "and the world's first integrated 3D printing" 1,100 square meters ". In March 2016, Yingchuang printed the first batch of Chinese-style courtyard buildings in the world. In May 2016, the world's first 3D printing office was located in Dubai. The company has 129 inventions and utility model patents in the field of new building materials and 3D printing construction. Yingchuang 3D printing green building technology is in the international leading position. 

The United States

In 2013, President barack Obama emphasized the importance of 3D printing technology in his state of the union address, hoping to promote the development of the U.S. 3D printing industry. The American government then formed the Americamakes alliance in Youngstown, Ohio (formerly known as countries increase material manufacturing innovation research institute), through conferences, training, project collection methods such as 3 d printing, alliance members with universities, research institutions, public institutions and private firms. The alliance received $89 million in funding, of which $50 million came from public investment. So far, the alliance has successfully trained 7, 000 professional technicians in the field of 3D printing, and has produced products with independent patents. In addition, the United States has recently started to use 3D printing technology in all major industries. In the military field, the U.S. military has been conducting training programs in various 3D printing technologies. It is also working on new 3D printing applications to optimize combat equipment for the active military, as well as a powerful 3D printing device on navy ships for emergencies.

In manufacturing, 71.1% of U.S. manufacturers are using 3-d printing in some form. That's slightly higher than in 2014 (67 %). More significantly, in the past two years, manufacturers have seen significant changes in the way they use 3D printing technology. In particular, a higher proportion of manufacturers (51%) applied the technology to prototype and component manufacturing, up from 35% in 2014. The number of companies experimenting with 3D printing has fallen from 28.9% in 2014 to 13.2% in 2015. For example, U.S. industrial giant GE often uses 3D printing technology to design and print all kinds of super large parts, and has achieved great success. 

The United States also leads the world in the development of laws and regulations for 3D printing. For example, on May 11, 2016, President Obama signed the Act 1. The bill gives litigants the right to Sue in federal courts for stealing commercial secrets such as 3D printing, and the law in the medical field is fairly strict: In the United States, 3D printed medical devices must be approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) for sale. At present, the evaluation process of 3D printing equipment is tedious and time-consuming, because there is no specific inspection standard for this new technology. The U.S. food and drug administration is writing regulations for 3D printing devices, and in May published a draft of a technical review of additive manufacturing equipment.

Germany

At present, Germany is also in the world's leading position in 3D printing, which is conducive to the vigorous promotion of this technology by Germany's 3D printing alliance. The Fraunhofer additive manufacturing alliance is one of Germany's more famous 3D printing alliances, comprising 10 famous research institutes. The alliance does not provide a suitable solution for companies entering the 3D printing industry, and it is equipped with tens of millions of euros for basic research. In addition, the consortium's research results in the large-scale PPP project (PPP) provide all member companies with access.

In addition, Germany has done a good job of popularizing 3D printing technology. German folk, for example, have a large number of 3D printing technology application associations, which have helped many disabled people make artificial limbs. German college students use full 3D printing cars to compete. And Germany's Dresden recently announced a massive 3D printing industry, aiming to make Dresden the European 3D printing capital.

England

Britain has long introduced policies to promote the development of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. In 2007, under the aegis of the UK's technical strategy council, the UK government planned to invest 95 million pounds in public and private funds for 3D printing collaborative research and development projects between 2007 and 2016. The vast majority of these projects are pure research and development (only 25 million pounds is used for the transformation). In 2013, the British government added 3D printing to middle and high school curricula. In addition, universities in the UK (university of Birmingham, loughborough university and Nottingham university) have in-depth research in the field of 3D printing and have obtained funding support from many EU R&D projects. This has also played a role in promoting the development of Britain's 3D printing industry. 

The UK has widely used 3D printing technology in a wide range of fields, notably the British navy's 3D printed navigation UAV. In addition, the UK is also developing 3D printing to be fully applied to education institutions and other fields to open the door of 3D printing. It is reported that from 2012 to 2015, British public expenditure on additive manufacturing increased by 100%. In 2014 alone, the UK government spent 30 million pounds on donations, bonuses or other ways of spending directly on additive manufacturing. By 2015, 25 million pounds will have been allocated to the project before February, and there will be more in the future. So it is clear that the UK's public spending on 3D printing has risen almost exponentially.

EU

During 2007-2013, the EU's seventh framework programme for 60 3 d printing joint research project provides support, a total investment of 160 million euros (including private investment, project total 225 million euros). Under the EU's horizon 2020 project (2014-2020), some new 3D printing research projects will continue to be supported, and some 3D printing projects for commercial applications will be included in the plan. In addition, the European Union will set up a European 3D printing technology platform to share information, provide technical and economic solutions or provide guidance for enterprises in the 3D printing industry. The EU will also support the construction of some of the 3D printing results conversion centres.

Russia

As a big country, Russia is not backward in research and development in 3D printing field. Russia is also widely used in 3D printing technology, such as aircraft 3D printing parts, space satellites, military helicopters, drones and nuclear power

In the field of nuclear energy, Rosatom, the Russian state agency, plans to use advanced 3D printing as part of its non-core business strategy. According to the company's plan, its latest 3D printing business will be first used in its nuclear power sector and then extended to other business units. And the 3D printing business will use innovative metal powder materials and industrial-grade 3D printers developed by itself.

UIMC, a Russian state-owned company, has created a fully 3D printed drone. The UAV can be used for detection and reconnaissance, and can be printed and assembled in 3D within a day. In space 3D printing, the Russian team is developing a 3D printer that can be used on the international space station (ISS). The difference between the device and NASA's space 3D printer is that the printer uses composites. It's not just plastic, it's also the continuous reinforcement of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic 3D printed into satellite components can be made directly into orbit through equipment. Russia's federal space agency (Roscosmos), the state-owned enterprise united rocket space corporation (URSC), declared that the company has signed an agreement with the country's 3D Bioprinting Solutions. Co-develop a magnetic 3D bio-printer that can run in zero gravity. According to the plan, the 3D bio-printer will be sent to the international space station in 2018.

South Korea

According to the government's latest policy, companies involved in robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and other high-tech fields will be eligible for additional tax breaks in South Korea. On July 28, 2016, the government announced that it would implement several new tax measures. The goal is to create several "new engines of economic growth". According to the south Korean government's strategy, they will deduct up to 30 per cent of the tax for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The government also says the new tax measures are meant to ensure tax breaks for companies that invest in new facilities, raise wages or pay dividends to shareholders. It is clear that South Korea is also starting to invest in high-tech fields such as 3D printing.

Other countries

A 3D printing technology platform and an achievement transformation center have been established in Sirris, Belgium. Many enterprises have gained support from these centers, including well-known enterprises such as Materialize and Layerwise. In addition, the Netherlands and Italy have invested tens of millions of euros in 3D printing plants. The Australian government has also actively supported some universities in the field of 3D printing.