China Mechanical Engineering Society 2025 3D Printing Innovation & Creativity Invitational Competition
I. Background & Objectives
To ignite nationwide innovation and advance the development and application of 3D printing technology, the China Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES) is organizing the "2025 3D Printing Innovation & Creativity Invitational Competition." This competition challenges participants to break free from conventional thinking, pursue groundbreaking "0-to-1" innovations, and explore the vast potential of 3D printing in frontier scientific research, critical national needs, key economic sectors, and public health. By establishing a platform for exchange and exhibition, the event aims to deeply integrate creative ideas with 3D printing, facilitate the transformation of innovative outcomes, cultivate talent, and bolster 3D printing's role as a core component of advanced productive forces, thereby supporting China's new industrialization.
II. Organizing Structure
Organizer: China Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES)
Hosts: CMES Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Technical Committee, Beijing Institute of Technology
Co-hosts: Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Jilin University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang Ocean University, China Laser Manufacturing Technology and Industry Innovation Alliance (Preparatory)
Special Thanks: Department of High and New Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT); Center for High Technology Research and Development, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
III. Competition Themes
This inaugural invitational, under the theme "Innovation Leadership — AI Empowerment — Science-Industry Integration," encourages original innovation and physical project submissions. It features an open format, welcoming proposals across, but not limited to:
(1) Process Innovation: Space-based 3D Printing, Extreme-Scale 3D Printing, AI+3D Printing, Multi-material 3D Printing, 4D Printing, Area/Volumetric Printing, etc.
(2) Material Innovation: Materials for Extreme Environments, Materials with Extreme Performance/Functionality, AI-driven Material Design, etc.
(3) Structural Innovation: Ultra-lightweight Structures, Integrated Structures, Multi-functional Structures, Integration of Material-Structure-Function, AI-driven Structural Design, etc.
Participants are encouraged to leverage their expertise to explore 3D printing's application potential, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to develop disruptive and forward-thinking solutions.
IV. Eligibility
The competition is open to:
Full-time university students (including college, undergraduate, and postgraduate students).
Professionals and individuals from all sectors of society.
Note: Primary and secondary school students are not eligible.
Participants may enter as individuals or in teams (maximum 5 members per team, with up to 2 advisors). Interdisciplinary and cross-institutional teams are highly encouraged.
V. Competition Process
The competition consists of two stages: an Online Preliminary and an On-site Final.
Registration Period: October 10, 2025 – November 10, 2025
Online Review: November 11, 2025 – November 17, 2025
On-site Finals & Award Ceremony: November 29, 2025 – November 30, 2025
