3D GEM (3D Graphy Engineering & Medical) — Platform Overview and 2026 Editions
Executive Summary
3D GEM is India’s premier integrated platform dedicated to the advancement, application and adoption of 3D technologies across engineering, healthcare and allied sectors. Organized by 3D GRAPHY LLP and supported by leading host partners (IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc Bengaluru) and the Government Partner MeitY, 3D GEM brings together academia, industry, policy makers and end users to share research, showcase technology, solve national challenges, and recognize excellence.
Mission / Theme (Constant across editions):
Democratising 3D technology through education and research to benefit all.
2026 Milestone: For the first time 3D GEM will run two editions in a single year — widening scope, regional access and industry reach:
- 6th Edition: 28–29 May 2026 — IIT Bombay.
- 7th Edition: 8–9 October 2026 — IIT Guwahati.
Across editions 3D GEM engages 30+ industry associations and end users from Engineering, Aerospace, Automotive, Space, Shipbuilding, Heavy Industries, Energy, Dental, Medical, Pharma and related sectors.
The Six Active Platforms (Detailed)
Each 3D GEM edition runs six active, interlocking platforms designed to engage a wide audience and drive outcomes from concept to application.
1) Conference (Engineering & Medical)
Purpose: Technical program that spans fundamental research, translational work and industry case studies in engineering and medical domains.
Core elements:
- Keynote addresses by industry leaders, senior academics, and government representatives.
- Thematic plenaries: Additive manufacturing at scale; bioprinting and regenerative medicine; digital twin & AI in manufacturing and healthcare; standards, regulation and quality management; materials development and characterisation; post-processing and finishing technologies.
- END USER TALK – will include speakers talk about problem statements and testimony with benefits and the use of 3D technology in Engineering, Industrial manufacturing, Dental and medical.
- RESEARCHER TALK – will include researcher making new head way in 3d technology and solutions.
- 3D TECH TALK – will include 3D Tecnology companies and 3D Experts make presentation about the latest 3D technology available.
Intended outcomes: cross-sector knowledge transfer, collaborations, policy feedback and clear industry-academic project leads.
2) Exhibition
Purpose: A curated marketplace and demo floor where technology vendors, startups, research labs and service providers display hardware, software and materials.
Exhibitor categories:
- 3D Printers: Polymer, Metal, Composite, Bioprinters
- Scanners: structured light, laser, CT-based industrial scanners, intraoral scanners
- Software: CAD, modelling, simulation, process planning, slicers, validation & verification tools
- Materials: filaments, resins, metal powders/wires, composites, bioinks, specialty polymers
- 3D Visualisation & Digital Twin: AR/VR/MR/XR solutions, AI-driven visualization and remote collaboration tools
- Post-processing: sintering, heat treatments, surface finishing, metrology & inspection tools
Value to attendees: live demos, proof-of-concept builds, procurement scouting, product launches and pilot collaborations.
3) Poster Presentation
Purpose: Platform for students, researchers, and industry R&D teams to present concise, visual research and development results.
Format & evaluation:
- Poster gallery open across both days with scheduled poster walks for judges.
- Categories include: fundamental research, translational engineering, medical applications, materials & processes, software/algorithms, and student projects.
- Awards: Best Student Poster, Best Industry Poster, Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice.
Benefits: visibility, networking with industry mentors, potential for seed funding and invitations to collaborate.
4) National Grand Challenge
Purpose: A flagship program to accelerate indigenous 3D technology development—hardware, materials, software and integrated systems.
Focus: problems of national relevance across manufacturing, healthcare, infrastructure and defence; encourage end-to-end Indian solutions.
Structure:
- Call for proposals (open national invite). Shortlist based on technical merit, feasibility and social/industrial impact.
- Mentorship from industry and academia; access to testbeds at partner campuses.
- Finals at the event with live demonstrations and evaluation by a multidisciplinary jury.
Prizes & support: cash grants, incubation support, pilot deployments with industry partners, government matchmaking.
5) Design Challenge
Purpose: Stimulate design thinking and creative application of 3D technology to solve user-centred problems.
Target participants: undergraduate & postgraduate students, designers, early-stage startups.
Themes: annually chosen — examples: low-cost assistive devices, modular prosthetics, sustainable packaging, rapid field-repair components.
Deliverables & format: conceptual designs, CAD files, rapid prototypes and a presentation of testing/validation plans.
Rewards: awards, prototyping grants, commercial mentorship and possible exhibition shelf space.
6) Awards
Purpose: Recognition across categories to spotlight technical excellence, innovation, adoption and social impact.
Award categories (sample):
- Lifetime Achievement in 3D Technology
- Best Industrial Adoption (Engineering)
- Best Clinical Translation (Medical)
- Most Promising Startup (3D Tech)
- Best Student Project / Thesis
- Best Indigenous Product (hardware / material / software)
- Best Poster (Student, Industry)
- People’s Choice Awards
Jury: cross-disciplinary: academic peers, industry technical leads, government representatives and end-user judges.