Additive Manufacturing Austria and the United Arab Nations seek strategic partnership

Vienna, 23 February 2022 - As part of its internationalization strategy, the Austrian Technology Platform for Additive Manufacturing (AM-Austria) met with leading stakeholders from the United Arab Nations (UAE) to discuss opportunities for cross-border collaborations.

As part of a networking tour initiated by Network Development Hub GmbH (NDH) at the end of 2021, Dr. Johannes Homa (President of AM-Austria) met with key representatives from industry, technology and research in Dubai to discuss opportunities for future collaborations between the two regions. In the tour led by Naveed Syed, (Founder and CEO of NDH) and his advisor Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Homa visited the organizations listed below to discuss possible joint activities with their top management.

  • Sharjah Reserach Technology Innovation Park

  • Dubai Future Foundation

  • University of Dubai

  • Khalifa University

  • Mubadala Aerospace

  • Digital Dubai Authority

  • SmartWorld

  • Expo2020

AM-Austria not only received an extremely warm welcome, but also positive signals for joint initiatives.

VAE as an ambitious pioneer in additive manufacturing After H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, (Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE) announced a national 3D printing strategy and roadmap in 2016, the UAE is considered a leader in the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies in the region. This ambitious initiative aims to put the technologies at the service of humanity and expand the status of the UAE and Dubai as a leading center of 3D printing technology by 2030. The UAE is focusing primarily on the three main sectors of construction, medical devices and consumer end products.

Austrian innovative strength
Despite its comparatively small size, Austria plays an above-average active and innovative role in the international 3D printing industry. This development was already reflected in the European Patent Office's report between 2014 and 2017. In these years, Austria recorded the highest growth rate in patent applications in the field of additive manufacturing worldwide at 1300%. The Wohlers Report 2021 also revealed that Austria has the most AM manufacturers per capita worldwide, putting it ahead of the USA, Germany and China.

Despite its small size, Austria is considered one of the most innovative countries in the field of additive manufacturing and has deep and extensive expertise that spans not only the entire additive value chain, but also various additive technologies. With the help of international collaborations such as this one, a fruitful exchange is to be initiated that will strengthen the position of the countries involved and further develop additive manufacturing technologies.

In a next step, both countries will discuss concrete strategies to be able to start a collaboration as quickly as possible.

About Network Development Hub:
The Network Development Hub helps technology start-ups and scale-ups to commercialize and grow their businesses, with a focus on commercial capabilities, market communication and international business development.

Further information can be found at: www.networkdevelopmenthub.com

About AM-Austria: The AM-Austria technology platform is a non-profit association that has been working to promote and support the Austrian additive manufacturing industry since 2018. The platform is supported by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and pursues the goal of developing Austria into an innovative pioneer in the field of additive manufacturing in order to leverage the enormous potential of this technology for this location. With more than 70 members from industry, research and trade, the young initiative is one of the most active and largest technology platforms in Austria.

Media contact AM-Austria: initiative@am-austria.com

More information at: www.am-austria.com