'3D Printing Convergence Technology Center' to Open in Ulsan

Ulsan City and UNIST to Invest 45 Billion Won by 2024 ... Wings for the 'Printing Hub City'

Location map of Ulsan Technopark Industrial Complex where the 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center will be established.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A state-of-the-art ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center’ will be established in Ulsan.

On the 4th, Ulsan City announced that it was finally selected as the target for the ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center Construction Project’ announced by the Ministry of Science and ICT, together with Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).

Accordingly, the project group consisting of the city, UNIST, and the Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency will invest a total project cost of 45 billion KRW (24.5 billion KRW national funds, 15.5 billion KRW city funds, 5 billion KRW private funds) over five years from June to December 2024 to build the ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center.’

Once the center is built, it plans to take charge of projects such as establishing mass production process automation systems and digital factories, building a convergence technology demonstration standard system, and supporting mass production process demonstrations.

The center will be built on a 5,051㎡ site at the UNIST Industry-Academia Convergence Campus within the Ulsan Techno General Industrial Complex, with one basement floor and three above-ground floors, totaling 5,440㎡ in gross floor area, aiming for completion in December 2022.

The area is the largest 3D printing specialized cluster in Korea, adjacent to the country’s main industrial complexes, serving as the largest demand hub, and capable of creating synergy effects in advancing key industries and fostering convergence technologies.

Currently, the ‘Next-Generation Shipbuilding and Energy Parts 3D Printing Manufacturing Process Research Center’ is in operation, and the ‘3D Printing Venture Cluster Knowledge Industry Center’ and the ‘3D Printing Material Commercialization Quality Evaluation Center’ are scheduled to be completed in October this year and in 2021, respectively.

Additionally, universities related to 3D printing, excellent overseas 3D printing institutions, and 3D printing-related companies are also located within the industrial complex. UNIST plans to link the ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center’ with the ‘UNIST Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’ and the ‘AI Innovation Park’ to achieve convergence of 3D printing and AI technologies and establish an industry-specific support system. This will accelerate plans for the advancement of manufacturing based on smart factories and 3D printing.

This project aims to establish a demonstration platform for mass production processes of industrial core parts using 3D printing and a standardized demonstration system for 3D printing convergence technologies to commercialize and put into practical use core parts for the 3D printing industry.

A city official said, “Under these optimal location conditions, we plan to play the role of a collaboration bridge between the 3D printing industry and key manufacturing industries, complete the ‘largest domestic 3D printing hub city’ linked with industry, academia, and research, and lead the domestic 3D printing industry.”