source: www.3ders.org
Singapore Government will invest $500 million over five years to boost country's skills in advanced manufacturing, including in the rapidly emerging 3D printing industry.
Announced in Budget 2013, this funding is part of government's Future of Manufacturing (FoM) programme aiming to get Singapore's manufacturing firms to embrace disruptive technologies such as 3D printing and Robotics, and new business models such as mass customisation.
The $500 million funding will be used to upgrade skills among workers and engineers as well as "exploring the potential of building a new 3D printing industry ecosystem".
The government expect that this policy would stimulate firms to design 3D printing equipment, make and sell 3D processing software and carry out mass customisation using the 3D printers.
The final details about the Future of Manufacturing initiative will be released by the end of the year.
"The equipment is currently pretty expensive to import, and it'd be good for the industry's research and development, as well as for small and medium-sized enterprises like us if the Government could help make it more affordable," said Mr Mark Lim, managing director of 3D Matters.
Mark Lim, 27, an aerospace engineer at heart, is fascinated by technology and the future of 3D Printing. He founded 3D Matters with longtime friend Hayden Tay, 26, six months ago to provide 3D printing service to individuals and enterprises.
3D Matters has a Zcorp 450 3D printer in-house and charges at fixed rates for the volume of raw material and binder solution used and the printing time required.
They have already got some clients and most of parts they have printed are plastics-based toys, architectural models and product prototypes.
It should also be noted that there are at least two 3D printing company in Singapore already engaging in designing and making 3D printers. Besides Pirate3D we reported earlier today, Portabee is another company selling affordable 3D printer kits. For $499 you can buy a complete Portabee 3D printer kit (unassembled, $699 for assembled). Weighing in at 2.8kg (6.2lbs), it is a portable 3D printer and is collapsible to fit into a laptop bag.
For sure the competition could improve future offerings from both companies. "Restructuring our economy is also about looking ahead for new growth opportunities," said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. "We have to keep developing new capabilities so that we stay relevant in the world and create higher-value industries and high-quality jobs for Singaporeans."
