Formnext Awards: Competing to Promote Innovation in 3D Printing

The additive manufacturing sector continues to advance thanks to the talent and motivation of the people who are driving the technology forward and, with it, the industry as a whole. It is therefore essential that all these ideas receive the attention they deserve, to the benefit of the sector and the innovative development of the industry as a whole. Since its inception, Formnext has used the Startup Challenge to promote the activity of creative and innovative companies, facilitating key technical and commercial breakthroughs. As the additive manufacturing sector evolves and expands into new areas of expertise, the event is also set to reward excellence in six relevant areas through the Formnext Awards.

Held for the first time this year, the competition will focus on the industry’s latest innovations, divided into the categories listed below. Finalists have been selected by a panel of expert judges, and the winners will be determined by a public vote at the awards ceremony, to be held on the evening of November 21, 2024 on the “Industry Stage” Hall 11, Floor 0, Stand D72.

Start-Up Award

The renowned Start-up Award follows the same concept as the Startup Challenge, which has been organized for years by the event. The competition enables young companies to lay the foundations for their future in the world of additive manufacturing, expand their network of contacts and engage in discussions with potential investors. Start-ups wishing to take part must have been established within the last five years, have annual sales not exceeding €10 million, and have developed at least one marketable product. Winning the Start-up Award enables companies to give their business a boost, and offers them a substantial entry into the world of 3D printing.

As in previous years, Formnext will feature an area dedicated to 3D printing startups.

Rookie Award

This category of the Formnext Awards highlights projects that have not yet been launched, with the aim of promoting and developing an idea into a reality. The Rookie Award is aimed at all bright minds who have a clear and compelling idea in the additive manufacturing sector, and who are looking for initial support and contacts in the industry. The only conditions are that the company or project has been founded less than a year ago, or has not yet been founded, and that no significant investment has been made in the idea. In addition, the winner will be sponsored by one of the members of the jury.

Design Award

As we know, one of the advantages of 3D printing is that it offers great design freedom. As a result, applications of the technology go far beyond aesthetic objectives, and can be used for complex, functional end parts. It is in recognition of this essential aspect that the Design Award was created.

This category was designed to highlight the importance of intelligent, original and ingenious design through the use of additive manufacturing. Entrants must explain why their design is optimal, innovative and applicable to 3D printing compared to other manufacturing methods. In addition, they will have to answer a key question: what is the social relevance of the design and how does it improve the lives of users or benefit society as a whole?

Sustainability Award

You may have heard that 3D printing, compared to other more traditional manufacturing methods, is considered a sustainable technology. For example, it reduces waste, improves recyclability, and enables local, on-demand production. The Sustainability Award was created to emphasize this.

The award aims to assess the sustainability of additive manufacturing applied to product development. This value is to be found throughout the life cycle of use cases, not just in the production phase. Candidates will be asked to present and defend a number of points to the jury. In particular, they will have to present their project, its life cycle, and explain what their competitive advantage is, what challenges they face, and which of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) they are addressing, among others.

AMbassador Award

An essential aspect of the additive manufacturing industry is the development of programs that promote the education and adoption of 3D technologies…To give voice to such initiatives, the AMbassador Award will recognize individuals or organizations seeking to make a real impact on this industry and pave the way for its implementation. Candidates must present their project to the jury, explaining the relationship with additive manufacturing, technical excellence, the level of novelty of their project and the impact it has on society or industry.

(R)Evolution Award

In order to highlight the most significant innovations from additive manufacturing players, Formnext invites exhibitors to present their products and services to a specialized jury. As part of the (R)Evolution Award, participants will have to answer a series of questions designed to assess the technological maturity of their proposals, as well as their impact on the market, operational efficiency for customers and the quality of the end products. In addition, competitors must demonstrate the uniqueness of their solutions compared to traditional alternatives, present concrete use cases and take into account aspects such as environmental impact and user training. This approach aims to highlight the importance of 3D printing in industrial transformation, and encourage its effective adoption in the marketplace.

The (R)Evolution Award is open to all players in additive manufacturing

Winners of the Formnext Awards will be integrated into all the event’s marketing and communications activities worldwide, featured in the special awards showcase and at the trophy ceremony, and some of them will receive material rewards. The finalists have already been announced on the Formnext website. In the meantime, don’t forget to visit our dedicated event page for all the latest news on the 2024 edition of the show.

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*All Photo Credits: Formnext/Mesago