In 2017, the University of Pécs and its consortium partner, the University of Debrecen, won HUF 1.85 billion in non-refundable EU funding in the frame of the GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00022 tender, titled “Establishment of an interdisciplinary research, education and development center at the University of Pécs using 3D printing and visualization technologies”, as part of the Széchenyi 2020 program. Due to this support, the UP 3D Printing and Visualisation Center has been opened on the campus of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, creating an exciting, open-minded, and efficient intellectual workshop in terms of equipment and relevant expertise.
The University of Pécs 3D Printing and Visualisation Center uniquely combines equipment and expertise with innovation opportunities in a diverse university environment. The UP 3D project, as an essential regional strategic program, was a direct initiative of the rector and brought together the relevant innovation efforts of several faculties - Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (MIK), Faculty of Music and Visual Arts (MK), Medical School (UPMS), Faculty of Sciences (TTK), Faculty of Business and Economics (KTK).
The UP 3D Printing and Visualisation Center was established from the GINOP tender with the support of the government and the European Union. The establishment began in 2016. Today, it has a complete portfolio of services based on 3D technologies that can serve researchers, healthcare and industrial actors, the R&D&I activities of UP and the region, educational goals, and even individual needs.
The professional management of the program placed great emphasis on all development phases to be carried out in-house, from technical design to physical implementation, so that even market-ready products can be created. The center emerges from the list of workshops dealing with 3D technologies with the scientific competence of its group of specialists and the diversity of projects and multidisciplinarity.
The center conducts research and development at the frontiers of 3D technology, such as prosthetics in personalized medicine; development and small series production of various simulators for medical education; rapid prototyping for industry actors to take advantage of the cost-effectiveness of the additive manufacturing process; making masterpieces for foundries; development of a conceptual model for tenders. The exploration of the possibilities of participating in the production of vehicle parts has also begun.
3D imaging solutions have priority (for example, 3D scanning, photogrammetry, virtual and augmented reality-based solutions), the areas of 3D-based education and design (to support medical training areas especially), and the customized development of related software solutions.
The special professional and high-quality, innovative environment has culminated in collaborations and projects such as working with CorvusMed, a prosthetic design and manufacturing company, and establishing Prolimb, a university spin-off company developing a prosthesis operated by the Ember Arm artificial intelligence, capable of learning. The development of the bioprinter and the conduct of 3D material technology tests aimed at biocompatibility and sterilizability serve specifically practical purposes in cooperation with the Faculty of Pharmacy. Surgical drilling and cutting templates (Department of Neurosurgery), medical tools (Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery), simulation models (Department of Paediatrics) are being developed and created for the UP Clinical Center.
It is safe to say now that the 3D initiative is one of the success stories of UP. Everyone involved in the implementation agreed that the closing event did not mark the end of a project but the beginning of something even greater. The management and staff of the UP 3D Printing and Visualization Center are committed to making the institution a significant educational and scientific center soon, both domestically and internationally. The aim is to create an intellectual workshop that can effectively and efficiently support the implementation of further university and regional development plans and the university’s marketization processes.
As a special educational infrastructure, science workshop, and service center - with state-of-the-art 3D technologies-, it will continue to attract highly qualified professionals and help innovation processes systematically. The next step is to open up to university and community education. An excellent example of the former is the involvement in establishing and launching the internationally announced master’s degree program in Biomedical Engineering and the organization of training courses for community education.
The long-term goal is to benefit from the acquired knowledge and experience in the international scientific world, of which the M3D-Vision platform may be the flagship over time, enabling inter-university education programs in the European Union. The next major strategic program of the University of Pécs is the establishment of the Science and Innovation Park, in which the UP 3D Center will play a key role through its unique group of specialists, special knowledge, and experience accumulated over the years and the complexity of equipment not available elsewhere.
“Strict separation of certain disciplines is becoming less and less possible and justified, so mostly those research groups can succeed that develop and guide their research with this in mind. This requires a high degree of intellectual openness and brave, timely action. The 3D Center is the epitome of this way of thinking. I am sure that the constantly evolving center is a significant attraction for young people. In addition to the present effectiveness, the center will also play an important role in building the future and training young people,” concluded Dr. Miklós Nyitrai, dean of UPMS and professional manager of the UP 3D project.
Photos:
Szabolcs Csortos/UnivPécs
Source:
PTE