3D Factory Incubator Has Already Supported 55 3D Printing Projects

In early March of this year, the 3D Factory Incubator completed its second year in operation. It is the first European high-tech 3D printing incubator, housing the most promising initiatives and projects committed to disruptive technologies as the basis of their business model. Its objective is to incubate the 100 best initiatives linked to additive manufacturing in 5 years, by creating a unique space for the incubation of start-ups, SMEs and micro-enterprises linked to 3D printing. It is an initiative promoted by the alliance between the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) and the Fundación Leitat, with the support of the ERDF Funds through the Fundación INCYDE, Foundation of the Chambers of Commerce of Spain.

As it celebrates its second anniversary, the initiative has already presented the data on what it has achieved since its inauguration in March 2019. To date, 55 companies have been incubated, far exceeding initial expectations, despite the establishment of the state of emergency

and the pandemic. During this time, it has also received more than 300 applications from small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs who trust the incubator to develop their business ideas through 3D printing. Of these, 79% are of national origin and 21% are international, which highlights the projection of the 3D Factory Incubator beyond the 3D printing industry in Spain. The remarkable growth of the project has also been reflected in the creation of employment in the incubated companies, generating more than 50 new jobs. Within the 3D Factory Incubator, we found projects from multiple sectors that demonstrate the transversality of technology: in first position are consumer goods companies (19), followed by technology consulting projects (12), health technology (7), mobility (7), ICT (7), robotics (1), logistics (1) and chemistry (1).