Centre for Law and Genetics

3D Printing Research

3D Printing and our Research

3D printing - touted as the third industrial revolution - promises to democratise design and manufacturing. Significant regulatory challenges posed by its radical nature threaten to stifle the Australian industry before it can develop from infancy. Our research in this area involves investigation of current 3D printing techniques and their impact. More specifically, it analyses the capacity of intellectual property and other legal schemes to effectively regulate the practice of 3D printing, the products of manufacturing processes incorporating 3D printing, and the effect on the market and consumers.

Our research focuses on answering the question of whether existing intellectual property and related regulatory schemes are capable of offering regulatory certainty in the face of these new technologies, or whether law reform is necessary in order to meet the challenges posed by this emerging technology. We have a particular interest in the biomedical applications of 3D printing and the multitude of intellectual property, ethical and regulatory hurdles these groundbreaking technologies raise.

Highlights of this Research

Associate Professor Dinusha Mendis from Bournemouth University spent some weeks with us in February-March 2015 to foster ongoing collaboration in the 3D printing space, particularly the intellectual property implications of 3D printing.


Relevant Projects


3D Printing Researchers


PhD Opportunities

There are currently opportunities for further study in connection with this Project. This is an area which is of emerging interest to the CLG, for the successful candidate this presents an opportunity to work in connection with a broader project whilst developing your own research interests. Expressions of interest are welcome, either to the research team or contact us and we can direct your communication to the academic that best fits.