Academia–industry meet 2026 on 3D printing and additive manufacturing

An academia-industry meet under the finishing school programme on 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology was held at the 3D printing project centre of a state technical university in West Bengal. The programme is supported by a central government initiative and implemented in collaboration with the university and a national technology organisation.

The meeting brought together participants from academia, industry, research organisations, startups, and government bodies. Discussions focused on current developments, applications and skill requirements in additive manufacturing. The opening session outlined the programme’s objective and the roles of education and industry in this field.
A technical session covered research trends, application areas, design approaches, and business elements of additive manufacturing. Examples were shared from manufacturing and healthcare. Participants even attended the demonstrations and visited the Centre of Excellence.

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A panel discussion addressed the startups, skill development, job roles, and challenges associated with the adoption of additive manufacturing. Views were shared from academic, industry, and research perspectives.

During the meeting, joint statements of intent were exchanged with industry and industry-association representatives. These statements relate to collaboration in research, training, and technology development. Announcements were also made on a national-level hackathon and short-term courses for engineering students.
The meeting concluded with a summary of discussions and the need for continued interaction among academics, industry, and government stakeholders.