After launching in January, GE Additive’s Additive Education Program will deliver hundreds of 3D printers to schools and educational institutions the world over. The hope is to inspire the next generation of makers.  

The GE Additive Education Program is an incentive that will reach 180,000 students just this year alone. The aim is to invest 10 million USD in education across the world in the next five years, specifically putting additive manufacturing technology in students’ hands.

Of the 10 million, GE has designated eight million USD for providing colleges and universities with metal 3D printers. The remaining 2 million will provide primary and secondary schools with desktop 3D printers.

After an early 2017 launch inviting applications for the program, the company received an enthusiastic response of more than 750 applications from across the globe. GE specialists were chosen to evaluate and decide on the 400 schools, and eight universities to receive the printers.

By the end of the year the chosen primary and secondary schools will each receive a desktop polymer printer package. This includes a Polar 3D printer and a subscription to said company’s STEAMtrax curriculum program, plus an XYZprinting printer. In addition, they all get twelve rolls of filament and “Tinkering with Turbines”, one of the STEAMtrax module kits

Likewise, GE will also be sending Concept Laser Mlab cusing 100R metal printers to eight colleges and universities. A machine that costs some 250,000 USD.

Why are GE Giving Away 3D Printers?

If you’re wondering why GE are giving away expensive printers, Mohammad Ehteshami, Vice President of GE Additive, explains:

“Additive manufacturing and 3D printing is revolutionizing the way we think about designing and manufacturing products. We want a pipeline of engineering talent that have additive in their DNA. This education program is our way of supporting that goal.”

This is only the beginning for GE Additive’s plans. With four years left to run on the program — and the cheapening of the technology potentially meaning more 3D printer bang for the buck — we’re looking at at least 900,000 students benefiting from real experience in 3D printing.

For educators interested in the program, the next application window opens in the first quarter of 2018. Stay tuned to GE Additive’s site for the announcement closer to the time.

Education is just the tip of GE’s 3D printing iceberg though. Indeed, with plans to sell 10,000 printers in the next 10 years and adding bold new technologies to its portfolio – plus investing in hot new things — the company isn’t sitting still.

Source: Press Release