The Ministry of Science and Technology is going to invest NT$10 billion (US$332 million) to help develop 3D printing over the next four years.
Bert Tseng, the director of the Additive Manufacturing and Laser Application Center of the government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), said that most manufactures in Taiwan still focus on small scale 3D printing equipment for personal use.
Tseng said it will take a while for the industry to develop something that can be applied to the field of medicine or for commercial uses.
“Technological development in this field first started out in the US and European countries," said Tseng. "Emerging countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan have also invested in the field in recent years. 3D printing has become popular around the world in the past two to three years.”
Tseng said the development of 3D printing in Taiwan has been led by universities with a focus on plastic materials. Now, the government is going to help the industry to develop metal materials that can be used in the field of medicine.