The AM-Austria - Additive Manufacturing Austria platform is an innovation support organization that promotes and supports the additive manufacturing industry, usually better known as 3D printing
The AM-Austria technology platform is a non-profit association supported by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). “With more than 70 members from industry, research and trade, the initiative is one of the most active and largest technology platforms in Austria,” explains AM-Austria President Johannes Homa.
The aim of AM-Austria is to develop Austria into one of the most innovative pioneers in the field of additive manufacturing in order to exploit the enormous future potential of this technology. “Additive manufacturing, also better known as 3D printing, enables the production of highly complex structures. Products can be completely rethought with additive manufacturing. It is a highly innovative layered construction process that has experienced an enormous boost in development in recent years,” adds AM Austria Coordinator Agnes Parfy.
The particular advantage of the process definitely lies in its great freedom of design, which makes it possible to create things that have never existed in this form before. “The range of applications now extends from electronic components, models, fashion, jewelry and entire houses to organs, food and end products that can be designed almost at nano level. And we are only at the beginning,” says Parfy.
THIRD-LARGEST DENSITY OF 3D PRINTING START-UPS WORLDWIDE
According to the latest surveys, Austria has the third-largest density of 3D printing start-ups in the world, which is remarkable because: “Start-ups in other regions have access to significantly higher capital in some cases. For example, the average investment volume of an AM start-up in the USA is around 11.6 million euros, which is five times the European average,” says Homa.
Despite its comparatively small size, Austria has long played an above-average active and innovative role in the international 3D printing industry. “While the early years of additive manufacturing were predominantly shaped by regions such as the USA and Germany, a change in dy-namics has been emerging in the last decade,” says Homa. ‘And it is precisely this impressive potential that we want to support and strengthen with our platform,’ summarizes Homa. The AM-Aust-ria cooperation initiative is listed in the Innovation Exchange as an innovation supporter. (pe)