I AM RRI

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a key enabling technology in high value manufacturing. The global AM market is on the rise and in 2016 the industry was valued at $6 billion with 93% being attributed to industrial applications. Evolving novel innovation networks, perfectly represented by the emerging, rather complex and highly dynamic AM industry sector, are frequently characterised by entirely new business models, high development and adaption rates, as well as strong technology diffusion within the economy. I AM RRI will investigate the AM innovation network in order to facilitate a better understanding and the modelling of the dynamics of its complex web of innovation value chains including openings for responsible research and innovation (RRI). In-depth investigation of the AM innovation network, accompanied by open stakeholder and foresight processes, will establish a comprehensive knowledge base and thorough understanding of the network’s components, processes and interconnections, forming the foundation for building a dynamic model. The model will allow deepening the understanding of the AM innovation system even further, and to simulate/govern rapidly developing and complex future changes of the network and its crisscrossing value chains. As core component of I AM RRI, use cases for automotive and medical AM application will be conducted in order to refine the model and to showcase its applicability and adaptability. The I AM RRI outcomes developed in the course of I AM RRI will be made available to the broad open science community and to stakeholders/policy makers, strengthening research and business, and fostering the evolvement of other novel innovation networks. Strategic guidelines will be defined to initiate institutional change. Identified RRI openings within the AM innovation network will support smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe. I AM RRI will promote AM in Europe as a globally competitive, innovative and world leading key technology.