Building the Future: Assessing 3D Printing’s Opportunities and Challenges

3D printing has been touted as an enabling platform for applications ranging from personalized medicine to personal drones. However, the specific trajectory it takes – more disruptive than the Internet? A passing fad for hobbyists? – will depend on conquering commercialization challenges. We forecast the future market size of 3D printing and identify business opportunities for would-be industry participants, and assess technology developers in the field on the Lux Innovation Grid to highlight potential partnerships. We project that 3D printing will be an $8.4 billion market in 2025 led by automotive, medical, and aerospace applications. In the longer term, it has potential to reshape the manufacturing ecosystem, but it will have the most impact in the near term for products that are made in small volumes, require high customization, and are more cost-tolerant.