The next generation is considering 3D printing as a career

Seven out of 10 students were inspired to consider 3D printing as part of their career—a positive trend for the future of Danish manufacturing companies.

In September and October 2022, nearly 300 students with an interest in sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, business development, and new technology gathered for Aim4SDG—an event on additive manufacturing for young entrepreneurs—where additive manufacturing, innovative business models, and more sustainable production were on the agenda. With everything from panel debates with committed AM experts to relevant case competitions, this year’s Aim4SDG event truly made its mark on the students, with seven out of 10 subsequently inspired to consider 3D printing as part of their career.

Dansk AM Hub and Rambøll Management Consulting have held a total of three events in Aarhus, Copenhagen, and Herning, where students were inspired to rethink how to manufacture and how to design businesses and products using new technology, including 3D printing. Here, the students were introduced to the many possibilities of AM technology in relation to sustainable production and also received concrete inspiration on how to get started as an AM entrepreneur. Among other things, the students could meet experts from the LEGO Group, Grundfos, Tons, Simply Print, Ossiform, COBOD, Exo360, the 3D Metal Alliance, and Create It REAL.

In total, the students came up with more than 30 different proposals for how to use 3D printing to make Danish production more sustainable. With examples ranging from circular business models to ensure a longer lifespan for festival tents to efficient recycling of sex toys, a sustainable and creative approach to AM technology was put into practice and highlighted the technology’s great potential to produce with less waste, less material, less transport, and less CO2.