‘Forward AM Innovation Award’ Launched for Startups to Accelerate Innovation with Additive Manufacturing

Forward AM, the BASF 3D Printing Solutions brand, launches the ‘Forward AM Innovation Award’, the very first global contest for startups developing new applications with 3D printing. The objective is to accelerate the adoption of Additive Manufacturing by supporting the work of trailblazing entrepreneurs, originators of innovative, sustainable and scalable ideas that leverage the unique possibilities of 3D printing.

The ‘Forward AM Innovation Award’ and its sponsor team (Source: Forward AM).

The contest is sponsored by an outstanding team of industry leaders: AMPOWER, AMT, Autodesk, HP, Photocentric, Sculpteo, and Ultimaker. AM Ventures, BASF Venture Capital GmbH, Deloitte and Women in 3D Printing will also support. Each of them will contribute their specific expertise to the contest. Alongside Forward AM they will select the startups, provide expert coaching sessions, and grant the winners access to their catalog of products and services for a total of EUR 185,000.

The Forward AM Innovation Award has been designed to accelerate 3D printing startups that are innovative, scalable, and focused on sustainability. Finalists can look forward to EUR 20,000 in goods and services, along with premium industry connections, coaching, and marketing exposure. At the Finals, the winning startup will then receive the Grand Prize of EUR 80,000 in goods and services to choose from the sponsors’ catalog. The winner will also have the opportunity to meet the venture capitalists of AM Ventures and BASF Venture Capital GmbH in a dedicated personal session.

The contest is flanked by two further awards: The Deloitte Sustainability Award offers EUR 10,000 in cash to the startup with the best sustainability strategy, while the Public’s Choice Award will reward the startup  that wins the audience’s vote at the Finals in June with an extra EUR 15,000 in goods and services.

Applications are open until March 28, 2021. Entrepreneurs from all over the world are invited to apply via the Forward AM website: move.forward-am.com/award. On Social Media, the contest can be found under the hashtag #ForwardAMaward.

Source: BASF