NTUitive and ISF Incubator have teamed up to launch Secur3DP+, a 3D-printing startup in Singapore.
This is a joint venture by the innovation and enterprise company started by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and US-based Intellectual Ventures’ tech-focused startup accelerator arm of global invention and investment business.
The move comes after ISF and NTU’s first partnership in 2016 during the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation cluster that is led by NTUitive.
The Singapore-based startup will make additive manufacturing a viable choice for more companies everywhere, by creating a global 3D-printing network that connects companies to vetted service providers, reported the Straits Times (ST).
ISF Incubator initially funded Secur3DP+, whose system runs on a proprietary blockchain solution for transaction security, quality assurance, and intellectual property (IP) protection, by a contribution of seed capital.
The blockchain-based transaction platform simplifies decentralised manufacturing by managing vendor compliance, file transfer, payment and fulfilment.
The system then ensures all validated and authorised projects are delivered in the most cost-effective way with the right products.
It will also enable startups and multinational corporations to protect and track their IP assets.
Certain patents and patent applications related to 3D printing and embedded identifiers have been acquired by Secur3DP+.
The startup can also tap onto NTU’s expertise in 3D printing and blockchain.
3D printing has evolved from a tool for rapid prototyping to becoming one that can make industry-scale parts, drastically changing the design and manufacturing process, ISF said.
The company added that to achieve true distributed manufacturing, companies will need secure workflow solutions, like Secur3DP+, to proctect their brand and IP.
Eng Kiat Low, chief executive officer of Secur3DP+, said that they are “filling a critical gap in the mass adoption of 3D printing”.
“By creating a global ecosystem of trusted partners, we hope to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing and allow businesses all over the world to get the products they need and do so securely, anytime, anywhere.”
For a while, the 3D printing trend saw an influx of crowdfunding campaigns for end-user 3D printers. There was a lot of noise until it died down some time last year.
But Singapore founders we’ve interviewed before were positive that 3D printing is more than just a fad.
Perhaps we’ll be able to expect more innovations in light of Industry 4.0 too.
Featured Image Credit: Bellevue Reporter
