Forward AM Innovation Award 2022: Igniting Innovation in 3D Printing Startups

The landscape of Additive Manufacturing (AM) is continuously evolving, driven by groundbreaking innovations from visionary startups. Recognizing this immense potential, BASF Forward AM proudly launched the inaugural Forward AM Innovation Award last year. This prestigious global contest was established to identify and celebrate startups leveraging 3D printing in the most impactful and exciting applications. The first edition saw an impressive array of talent, with four finalists — Cosm Medical, Wyve, SYOS, and Hilos — showcasing truly transformative projects that exceeded all expectations. Building on this monumental success, BASF Forward AM is thrilled to announce the second edition, the Forward AM Innovation Award 2022, and innovative startups worldwide are already encouraged to submit their applications. We recently connected with the dedicated team from BASF 3D Printing to delve deeper into what makes this award a pivotal opportunity for emerging businesses and what aspiring applicants can anticipate from this year’s competition.

Introducing the Forward AM Innovation Award: Empowering Additive Manufacturing Entrepreneurs

At Forward AM, our core passion lies in collaborating with entrepreneurs who are boldly pushing the boundaries of Additive Manufacturing. As a leading brand within BASF 3D Printing Solutions, our mission is unequivocally clear: to drive the industrialization of AM by providing cutting-edge materials and comprehensive solutions. Our team is deeply committed to nurturing the burgeoning 3D printing startup ecosystem, offering vital support and accelerating its growth. The Forward AM Innovation Award stands as a testament to this commitment, now entering its second year as a global beacon for startups harnessing the power of Additive Manufacturing. The call for applications for the 2022 edition is currently open, presenting an unparalleled opportunity for innovators. We urge all eligible startups to seize this chance and apply now, as the application window closes on July 17th.

This initiative is not just a competition; it’s a powerful collaborative effort where key industry leaders unite to foster and accelerate the development of 3D printing startups. These emerging companies are creating high-potential products and services thanks to the transformative capabilities of Additive Manufacturing. This year, the stakes are even higher, with over 100,000€ in prizes available, reflecting the growing investment and confidence in the AM sector. A rigorous selection process will culminate in the Semi-Finals, where four exceptional finalists will be chosen. Each of these finalists will be awarded 10,000€ and, more importantly, gain the invaluable opportunity to pitch their innovations live at the highly anticipated Finals event on September 30^th, 2022. Beyond the prestige, three distinct awards are up for grabs for the winning startups: the coveted Grand Prize of 50,000€, the Sustainability Award of 15,000€, acknowledging eco-conscious innovation, and the Public’s Choice Award of 15,000€, recognizing broad appeal and community support. All prize money will be redeemed in partnership with our esteemed collaborator, IAM3DHUB, ensuring a seamless and impactful reward experience for the winners.

The success and impact of the Forward AM Innovation Award are amplified by the incredible support from our diverse network of sponsors and partners. This year, Forward AM is immensely proud to welcome four distinguished Gold Sponsors who will play a crucial role in selecting the winning startups: industry giants HP, Photocentric, Sculpteo, and Stratasys. Their participation underscores their dedication to advancing the 3D printing ecosystem and fostering new talent. Joining them as Silver Sponsors are AMT and atum3D, further enriching the award’s support structure. Both our Gold and Silver sponsors are indispensable, providing critical resources, expertise, and validation that significantly bolster the 3D printing startup community. Furthermore, a remarkable team of ecosystem partners is committed to providing invaluable exposure to the finalists and winners. This includes prominent venture capitalists like AM Ventures and Asimov Ventures, alongside influential organizations such as MGA, MatterHackers, and Women in 3D Printing. Complementing this, key 3D printing media partners—3Dnatives, 3DPrint.com, 3Druck.com, and All3DP—will ensure widespread recognition and visibility for these innovative ventures. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our sponsors and partners for their unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions to supporting and propelling the 3D printing startup ecosystem forward.

Reflecting on the Success of Last Year’s Forward AM Innovation Award and Its Winners

Looking back at the inaugural Forward AM Innovation Award, we were truly overwhelmed by the sheer volume and exceptional quality of applications received from every corner of the globe. The response was a resounding affirmation of the global thirst for innovation in Additive Manufacturing. Our esteemed jury faced the arduous yet inspiring task of selecting the winning startups from an astounding 145 applications, representing an impressive 36 countries. It was particularly exciting for us to witness the incredible diversity of sectors represented by these applications, ranging from vital healthcare solutions to innovative consumer goods, complex industrial engineering projects, and revolutionary automotive designs. Beyond the traditional industries, we also encountered a multitude of highly original and imaginative projects that showcased the boundless possibilities of 3D printing.

The three winning startups from last year exemplified the transformative potential of Additive Manufacturing for producing high-performance end parts, moving beyond prototyping into functional applications. Cosm Medical, a Canadian startup, emerged as the winner of the prestigious Grand Prize. Their groundbreaking work focuses on 3D printing personalized pessaries, providing much-needed solutions for women suffering from pelvic floor issues. This application highlights AM’s capability to deliver customized medical devices with superior fit and functionality. The Sustainability Award was rightfully presented to Wyve, an inspiring company creating 3D printed surfboards from recycled plastics. Their unique honeycomb design not only enhances performance through optimized hydrodynamics but also significantly improves durability and makes repairs remarkably easy, embodying a true circular economy approach in sports equipment. Finally, the Public’s Choice Award was won by SYOS, a company dedicated to crafting custom 3D printed saxophone mouthpieces for musicians. Their innovative solution allows for unprecedented personalization, enabling artists to achieve their desired sound profile with precision. SYOS’s mouthpieces have been embraced by world-famous artists across the globe, demonstrating the impact of AM in niche markets. All these winners benefited immensely from access to key industry leaders and invaluable mentorship, enabling them to significantly accelerate their businesses. This support encompassed critical areas such as expert guidance in 3D modeling and simulation, detailed comparisons of materials and technologies, strategic mentoring, and extensive market exposure, proving the award’s holistic value beyond just monetary prizes.

Key Information About the Forward AM Innovation Award 2022

At Forward AM, our conviction is stronger than ever: Additive Manufacturing is not merely a technology but a fundamental force that will continue to profoundly shape the future of countless sectors. By strategically combining our high-performance materials with the most exciting and innovative applications, we are steadfast in our overarching goal to industrialize AM. A crucial part of this endeavor is to spotlight the extraordinary work of trailblazing entrepreneurs who are ingeniously leveraging 3D printing to create the products and solutions of tomorrow. The Forward AM Innovation Award is designed precisely for this purpose – to unearth and uplift these pioneers.

For this highly anticipated 2022 edition of the Forward AM Innovation Award, our focus is sharper and more defined than ever before, centered around 5 key criteria that we believe are essential for groundbreaking success in the AM space. These criteria include: **efficient use of Additive Manufacturing**, evaluating how effectively applicants integrate AM into their product development and production processes to maximize benefits; a strong **sustainable approach**, emphasizing environmentally conscious design, material choices, and production methods; significant **potential for scalability**, assessing the business model’s capacity for growth and market penetration; the strength of **a good team**, recognizing that a cohesive, skilled, and passionate team is the backbone of any successful startup; and a robust **IP strategy**, acknowledging the critical importance of intellectual property protection in a competitive technological landscape. The application phase for this transformative opportunity is currently open and will conclude on July 17th. We wholeheartedly invite all startups that are creating innovative products with 3D printing to submit their applications and share their vision with us! Following the application deadline, our distinguished Selection Jury will convene to meticulously score and identify the top 16 applications that demonstrate exceptional promise. In September, these selected startups will have the unique chance to pitch their revolutionary ideas directly in front of the jury during the Semi-Finals, a critical step in the competition. The journey will culminate in the much-anticipated Grand Finals, scheduled for September 30th. This landmark event will be hosted at the state-of-the-art IAM3D Hub in Barcelona and broadcast live online, creating a truly unique hybrid event that is not to be missed by anyone interested in the future of Additive Manufacturing.

A Final Call to Action for Innovators: Apply Now!

To all the ambitious startups out there who are harnessing the incredible power of 3D printing to build a better future, this is your moment. If your venture is developing innovative products through Additive Manufacturing, we strongly encourage you to apply for the Forward AM Innovation Award 2022. This is an unparalleled opportunity to gain significant exposure, invaluable mentorship, and substantial financial support, all within a network of leading industry experts. Please ensure that your application is submitted by the crucial deadline of July 17th. You can find the application portal and all necessary details HERE. We are genuinely excited and eagerly look forward to receiving your innovative applications and discovering the next wave of 3D printing pioneers!

Will your startup be applying to the Forward AM Innovation Award 2022? We’d love to hear your thoughts and aspirations! Share your insights and plans in a comment below, or engage with us and the broader 3D printing community on our official LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t miss out on the latest advancements and news in the Additive Manufacturing world; make sure to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, delivering the most up-to-date 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also explore a wealth of informative videos and content on our dedicated YouTube channel, where we showcase the cutting edge of 3D printing innovation.

*All Image Credits: BASF Forward AM