Oct 24, 2016 | By Alec
The Emirate of Dubai is rapidly becoming synonymous with 3D printing, as the city state is turning its considerable wealth towards sponsoring high-tech enterprises, 3D printing innovations and pioneering technologies. Earlier in the year, the country unveiled their own Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, which aims to make the country the 3D printing capital of the world by 2030. The first results of those efforts are already visible, such as this 3D printed Office of the Future. But in an attempt to make the strategy a complete regional success, the Dubai Future Foundation has now teamed up with Autodesk to ‘spark’ regional 3D printing innovation through a $100 million investment fund.
This new Dubai program was just confirmed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organizations. Under the terms of this partnership, the Dubai Future Foundation will be in charge of identifying suitable investment channels in the region, who will receive funding from Autodesk’s $100 million Spark fund. The goal is to encourage startups in the Gulf Region to develop new 3D printing technologies and applications, accelerating region-wide progress. Autodesk, in turn, will be in charge of evaluating that progress in the regional sector, allowing them to map out a clear strategy for their Spark fund.
Of course the state-led Dubai 3D Printing Strategy will doubtlessly do wonders for local innovation, but startups are always the real driving force behind creating an open climate that welcomes development. As the Dubai Future Foundation revealed, these new efforts – which also provide access to Spark’s marketing and software capacity – are intended to support those startups and allow that sector to blossom. If successful, a regional market for 3D printing will also be created, spurring the 3D printing of consumer goods and a lot more.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, and Amar Hanspal, Senior Vice President, Products, at Autodesk. As the former explained, they are also hoping to create a very attractive technological environment for further investors through this partnership. “The UAE is a pioneer in the 3D printing sector: the emirate has already constructed the world’s first 3D-printed office. With this new international partnership, the Foundation is working to establish an attractive investment environment around the innovations and technologies of the fourth industrial revolution – 3D printing, in particular – in a bid to increase the sector’s contributions to the national economy,” he said. “The MoU complements the Dubai Future Agenda, which strives to position the emirate as the international capital for the technologies of the future.”
According to his Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, this program will also greatly assist in the realization of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy. “3D printing technology will revolutionize the economic sectors that most affect people’s lives,” HE Al Gergawi said. “This includes construction, medical equipment and supplies, and even consumer products. 3D printing technology has taken center stage in the global market, drawing attention from all major tech companies and R&D centers around the world as they work to accelerate its introduction into traditional markets, in addition to establishing exciting new markets.”
But it is obviously also an opportunity for Autodesk to cement their position in the Middle Eastern market, as Louay Dahmash, head of Autodesk Middle East explained. “At Autodesk, we are constantly moving forward towards the future. We do not conform to the tried-and-tested methods of production, rather we develop new ones. We have signed an agreement with Dubai Future Foundation to spark a revolution in the 3D printing sector in Dubai and the UAE,” he added.
The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is its most populous city and state, is expected to lead the way in bringing digital manufacturing to the Middle East. “As leaders in the sector, we look forward to supporting Dubai’s future vision by accelerating and revolutionizing the manufacturing process in the emirate,” said Hanspal, who signed the deal on Autodesk’s behalf. While 2030 is still a long way away, it certainly seems as though Dubai is completely dedicated to reaching this target – something also confirmed by the strong presence of 3D printing in last month’s Dubai Future Accelerators announcement.
Posted in 3D Printer Company
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Hey autodesk why don't you put that 100 mill into your software. We all know it could use it.
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