Bespoke implants and medical products, the production of orthotic insoles, and the development of specialist coatings for joint replacement devices will all being developed as part of a £8.7m cash injection to develop 3D printing techniques.
A range of innovative research and development projects utilising 3D printing have received a major funding boost from the UK's innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, and the The Arts and Humanities Research Council.
The funding will see companies and business-led consortia undertake a wide range of collaborative research and development projects in areas as diverse as:
- Bespoke, 3D printed hip joints and surgical instruments, where the surgeon orders and receives a complete ‘kit', including joint and tools
- The production of orthotic insoles, with 3D printing replacing traditional hand-made techniques. The 3D printing manufacturing method allows the shape of the insoles and properties of the materials to be altered to exactly match the needs of a patient's foot
- The development of specialist, combination glass/metal coatings for replacement hip joints, significantly reducing the need to secondary hip replacement surgery and potentially achieving significant savings for the NHS
- Bespoke 3D printed cranio-facial implants
The funding was announced by the secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, on a visit to the Manufacturing Technology Centre, one of Technology Strategy Board's High Value Manufacturing catapult facilities.
He said: "Investing in tomorrow's technology will bring jobs and economic growth throughout the UK. That's why last month the Government announced the biggest ever investment in the work of the Technology Strategy Board.
"With £440m of funding they will support new manufacturing techniques to maintain the UK's position as a world leader in technology and design.
"This joint investment with the Research Councils highlights the commitment from across the sector to boost manufacturing in the UK."
A total of 18 innovative R&D projects will receive funding, which will last between one and three years.
