Hebrew University of Jerusalem builds on its 3D printing experience by creating the 3D and Functional Printer Center.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched the 3D and Functional Printing Center to focus on activities relating to 3D printing.

The centre will form part of the university’s Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

3D printing is the creation of 3D models from computer designed templates. Functional printing is the addition of another element to these models such as movement and electronics.

The university has already had some notoriety in 3D and functional printing having set up spinouts such as Steam, a company that has developed a way to print designs on the milk foam on lattes and cappuccinos, and Dip-Tech, a company that supplies digital glass printers.

Shlomo Magdassi, director of the 3D and Functional Printing Center, said: “The 3D and Functional Printing Center will be an interdisciplinary hub catering to researchers and students from across the university’s scientific disciplines.

“In addition to chemists and physicists who are already in the field, the centre will invite researchers from biology, medicine, agriculture and computer science to move into this sphere. By encouraging scientific collaborations between researchers from different disciplines, I expect we will see new breakthroughs based on their synergistic expertise.”