IBEC is bioprinting partner in major 3D printing hub in Catalonia

The Global 3D Printing Hub, which will receive up to 28 million euros from the Generalitat by 2020, will aim to consolidate Catalonia as a world leader in 3D printing, one of the key technologies in industry 4.0.

IBEC will contribute its expertise to the 3D bioprinting side of the platform. With its development of the Biospace infrastructure, which includes an advanced 3D bioprinter and 3D printer systems, the institute offers the level of precision, characteristics and know-how required to revolutionize regenerative medicine and medical devices using this emerging technology, and is already positioned as the 3D bioprinting provider to researchers and companies throughout southern Europe. Other players in the Global 3D Printing Hub will include HP, IQS, Renishaw, Fundació CIM, Eureco-Leitat, and Fira de Barcelona.

The Global 3D Printing Hub will take two approaches: it will connect solution providers and entrepreneurs with manufacturers around the world so that they can carry out joint projects in 3D printing; and secondly, it will provide a public laboratory where companies can do research, discover and test the applications of the technology.

The initiative was unveiled today by the President of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont, accompanied by the Minister for Enterprise and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, who outlined the proposed activities of the public-private platform and said: “We have the environment, the strategy, the actors and the funding to carry out this project.”

The Global 3D Printing Hub will be headquartered in 10.000m² of the Campus Diagonal Besòs in Barcelona, to which IBEC is also planning to expand its lab space.