For five years now, participants from the creative scene, industry, research institutions and students have been competing in 10 different categories in the largest competition of its kind for 3D printing. In 2020, the "3D Pioneers Challenge", with entries from 28 countries and 6 continents, once again surpassed the previous year’s success in terms of international reach.

Together with Messe Erfurt, the 3DPC is reacting to the corona-related cancellation of Rapid.Tech 3D and will be holding the competition including the award ceremony digitally in 2020:
Different to the recent years in which the exhibition presented the finalists as highlight at Rapid.Tech 3D and the winners were awarded at the gala event at Messe Erfurt, the 3DPC 2020 award ceremony will be crowned with a digital solution this year. Therefore 3DPC provides the participants and partners and of course prize winners the adequate special platform. The competition thus addresses the current situation and makes innovative progress. The digital award ceremony will be broadcasted online on 15 July 2020, on social media and on the website www.3dpc.io. Details will be announced soon.

In the next four weeks until the award ceremony the 52 finalists will be presented on social media like Facebook and linkedIn as well as on the website www.3dpc.io. Because of this year’s digital format, more projects than in previous years could make it into the final.
In 2020, medical technology will once again come into focus – including nanomaterials and bio-printing. Based on the current developments and submissions around COVID-19, 3DPC has opened a corresponding sub-category – here it shows how diversified 3D printing can help in extreme situations and open up opportunities. But also the other verticals score again. On the website fascinating projects by land, sea and air are presented, as well as sustainably designed e-mobility, which already rethinks the engine and increases its performance through additive technologies. Entries from the lifestyle sector, such as a 3D printed surfboard and a snowboard binding optimised by artificial intelligence or a commercially available printed e-bike, speak for the marketable use of 3D printing. In architecture, there are contrasts ranging from a contribution to sustainable clay printing up to contributions that combine low-tech and high-tech. The futuristic number of 2020 as the predicted future year of the 80s with a science fiction feeling is matched by material innovations through advanced technologies – for example, liquid metal printing that could allow a destroyed terminator to flow back into its shape. Other materials can be combined in a single process to open up the breakthrough to new business areas for 3D printing. Further projects show robotics and augmented reality for individual design in construction. Life-saving printed organs from stem cells once again seem to become a tangible reality.People are also moving further into the centre of attention – merging with and being supported by technology.

In addition to book prizes, the winners will receive a total prize money of €35,000, donated by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Science and Digital Society. The best student work will furthermore be awarded with the 3D printer Makerbot Replicator+. Three “Special Mention” can look forward to the Autodesk Residency Program to continue their trend-setting projects. The 3D Pioneers Challenge is herewith one of the most highly endowed and renowned design competitions in the field of 3D printing worldwide.

A special highlight is waiting for the main winner of the 3DPC 2020:
As part of "3DPC & Friends", last year’s winner in the vertical Digital "Hyperganic" was brought together with juror and star designer Ross Lovegrove and the 3DPC partner Materialise. The result of such a cooperation in the 3DPC network can be seen for the first time on 15 July 2020 when the joint work is awarded to the main winner – the additive manufactured "3DPC Trophy"!

The multi-stage jury procedure was carried out remotely, mainly using digital communication channels, for the current situation. The 21-headed expert jury was connected via video calls from the USA, Israel and Great Britain, and was able to discuss and vote on the submissions.
In 2020, the jury was composed of, among others, big names and experts in the industry such as Sonita Lontoh from HP or Dr. Marco Nock from EOS Innovation Management as well as Arno Held from AM Ventures. From the field of architecture and design, Janine Wunder and Andrej Kupetz from the German Design Council, Jessica Rosenkrantz from Nervous System, Patrik Schumacher from Zaha Hadid Architects and designer Ross Lovegrove are on board. Other new members include for example Dr.Cora Lüders-Theuerkauf and Stefanie Brickwede of mga e.V., or Marco Kormann from adidas and Prof. Dr. Manuel Kretzer from the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Dessau, as well as Prof. Shlomo Magdassi from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, whose focus is for instance on the development of nanomaterials.

In addition, 29 first-class partners, including Autodesk, Deutsche Bahn, EOS, Farsoon Europe, Fraunhofer IAPT, HP, Materialise, the Medical goes Additive platform, Stratasys or the Verband 3D Druck and Würth Group round off the network and team of experts from industry, press, design, medicine, education and software for the 3D Pioneers Challenge.