The Middle East and Africa 3D 4D Technology Market is expected to register a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period.
Key Highlights
- For the past year, researchers have incorporated the post-processing step in the 4D printing process itself, and the materials used are expanded to shape memory polymers, liquid crystal elastomers, and hydrogels.
- These materials can be used in cases where maintenance is difficult, such as in biomedical engineering, where stents can be manufactured using this technology. Advanced healthcare has the maximum application since printing organs and tissues for the human body using 3D printing is already prevalent; hence, much more can be achieved using 4D printing.
- As 3D printing continues to be paired with robots, whether in making parts for them or in creating robots that can operate 3D printers, the next level in soft robotics can be attained with 4D printing. Soft robotics utilize certain soft materials, such as elastomers, which act as the interaction interface between robots and their environment. These soft materials allow for a gentle interaction with fragile objects and allow for a better tolerance toward damaging forces when compared to traditional robotics.
- The UAE government has also been actively supporting the creation of advanced manufacturing and design hubs. An initiative, known as Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, was recently launched to promote the status of the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai, as the leading hub of 3D printing technology by the year 2030.
- The Suzhou building, a five-story apartment complex, is taller; the 31-foot-tall Dubai building is larger by volume at 6,900 square feet. Its purpose is a bit less exciting than its construction; it will be used for administrative work by the Dubai Municipality. Also, according to the Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai plans to 3D print 25% of every new building by 2025. Among the many sectors, the initial focus is on the construction sector. This exhibits the growth of 3D reconstruction in the coming future.
MEA 3D 4D Technology Market Trends
Healthcare is Expected to Hold SIgnificant Share
- Dubai Health Authority has committed to regulating and setting the standards of the use of the technology in the healthcare sector and is expected to focus on developing 3D bioprinted teeth, bones, medical, artificial organs and surgical devices, and hearing aids. This is expected to contribute to the growth of the market positively studied over the forecast period.
- Further, in 2020, medical experts from the Dubai Health Authority's Innovation Centre collaborated with Sinterex O to bring 3D printing to the point. It provides medical professionals at DHA with, patient-specific anatomical model, where workflows start with the patient data acquisition from a CT or MRI scan where the data is brought into medical image segmentation software, allowing the physician to isolate the specific anatomical region of interest.
- Furthermore, knee replacement surgeries are common in the region, among other joint surgeries, and the most important factor for achieving high accuracy and success rates is preoperative planning, during which the orthopedic surgeon normally uses expensive, time-consuming, scarcely available modalities (CT, MRI). To overcome the obstacle, players are announcing new innovative technologies to improve the physician workflow.
- In 2020, RSIP Vision, Israel, announced a new innovative AI-based solution for 3D reconstruction of knees from X-ray Images. This technology provides physicians a rich 3D modeling of each bone, which could help in providing critical data for surgery planning and implant fitting, improving physicians' workflow and reducing the need for high-cost and high-radiation currently used methods. Physicians will receive a precise 3D anatomical model of the patient's knee, enabling optimal pre-op planning and precise implant tailoring.
- The companies are investing in the latest healthcare technology, which will drive market growth in the region. For Instance, In November 2021, Bypass raises a pre-seed round of USD1 million to grow its health-tech offering across Egypt. Newer companies are attempting to build names for themselves in wholly different categories as companies like Vezeeta, Chefaa, and Yodawy grow by supplying telemedicine, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical items.
3D printer is Expected to Witness Significant Growth
- The medical sector in Egypt has reaped the benefits of 3D printing technology. Public 3D printing healthcare services are being offered by labs such as Fablab Egypt. Then there's Project Nitrous, which has a remarkable application in Egypt that allows disabled people to build their own prosthetics. Medical models and tools are designed and manufactured by Amtech 3D printing Egypt.
- In August 2021, DEWA's 3D printing construction project has reportedly taken more than five years to complete, but it is now open for business. The R&D Centre, located 50 kilometers south of Dubai in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, is believed to have four sub-laboratories, including dedicated electronics, software, mechanics, and prototype capabilities.
- Additionally, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, in February 2018, announced a strategic partnership to give the healthcare professionals in the region an insight into the future of 3D bioprinting. Dubai plans to host up to 700 companies in the new center dedicated to 3D bioprinting as part of its aim to become the global hub for technology by 2030.
- In August 2021, Pantheon Development is a luxury home, villa, apartment, and penthouse developer based on the outskirts of Dubai's Umm Al Sheif residential district. Typically, the company uses traditional building methods to create these opulent housing complexes, but it is now reportedly considering employing 3D printing for the first time.
- The United Arab Emirates is quickly rising as one of the strong players in the additive landscape. Though the small country in the region has not necessarily put forward influential additive manufacturing (AM) hardware systems, it has been adopting the technology across a range of sectors (most notably, in the medical field).
MEA 3D 4D Technology Industry Overview
The Middle East and Africa 3D 4D Technology Market is moderately fragmented due to the presence of international players as well as the entry of new players in the market. The growth is further supported by rapidly growing end-user industries such as construction that will further make the market more competitive.
- November 2021: Redefine Meat, an Israeli business, will start selling 3D-printed plant-based "meat" to a few high-end restaurants in Europe. To "print" the steaks, Redefine Meat uses 3D printers and "ink." The company intends to sell the printers and cartridges to meat distributors all across the world, who will print and distribute the Meat after it has been made.
- March 2021: Immensa Technology joined global players Sandvik and the BEAMIT Group to strengthen its position as an additive manufacturing specialist across the Middle East. With more than 30 AM engineers in-house, Immensa currently operates in Dubai and Sharjah, Kuwait, Riyadh, and Dammam. Such collaborations, along with government support, are expected to aid in the growth of the market significantly.
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