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3D Pioneers Challenge
Rapid.Tech3D, Messe Erfurt

The first prize – awarded with 10,000 EUR – was given in an entertaining and high-quality digital awards ceremony on 22 June. The 3DPC-trophy of the 3D Pioneers Challenge 2021 also goes to the "3DPC 2021 Main Winner": Hexr from Great Britain.
All winners of the nine categories could be seen live on screen when the prizes were announced. With confetti and a traditional gimlet after-show party, the lucky winner in the category FashionTech Robin Spicer and his team were celebrated virtually at the Stuttgart film set.

“Again – we are thrilled of this years pioneers. Every time we think there is no increase possible, advanced technologies teach us better – these creative minds never stop pushing boundaries. We are proud that it is the 3DPC plattform where everyone can feel the paradigm shift of this pulsating epoch. With the agency Jangled Nerves we won a strong supporter to produce an exciting digital happening to give a stage to the finalists, winners and partners“, said Simone and Christoph Völcker (founder of 3D Pioneers Challenge).

In the sixth year of the innovation competition, submissions from 32 countries and 5 continents faced the top-class 21-member international jury.

The focus of the 3D Pioneers Challenge 2021 was not only on the core of Additive Manufacturing but also on innovations in Advanced Technologies. The group of participants included pioneers of professionals, young professionals, start-ups as well as students.

The nominees for the 2021 final clearly indicated a "paradigm shift" – projects and products were being rethought through digital processes and technologies. Consequently, the jury expanded the categories this year to include "Technology & Process" in order to take into account the holistic idea of innovative manufacturing processes.

Sustainability plays a major role in the "new normal", both ecologically and economically. Socialinnovative concepts are taking steps into a progressive era of change. Back to the roots with new possibilities. The desire for the individual in a "New World" characterised by consciousness. "What if…" our nature would be allowed to endure sustainably forever through new technologies and their cycles? "What if…" natural materials find their way into industrial use?

The Digital Award Ceremony
Directly after the first day of the "RapidTech.3D digital" congress, held on 22 and 23 June, the virtual 3DPC awards ceremony was streamed live from Stuttgart.

In addition to the winning projects being awarded by the jury members, the digital awards ceremony also offered other highlights. Anja Lange (moderator) was impressed: “The founders of 3DPC draw all cards of their network”. So did Patrik Schumacher (CEO Zaha Hadid architects) who gave a keynote as attunement to celebrate the pioneers of advanced technologies and underlined the opportunities opened up by the exchange around new technologies on the 3DPC platform and its community. The Thuringian Minister for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society Wolfgang Tiefensee as well as the Director of the Messe Erfurt Michael Kynast sent greetings to the audience. In an interview with Simone Völcker (3DPC), Jennifer Arroyo (NTopology, New York) talked about this year’s "Special Feature" of 3DPC&Friends, which gave participants access to new types of digital tools – continuing education at the next level! Right before the eagerly awaited live announcement of the main winner, Autodesk, broadcasting from Toronto (CAN), awarded the three "Special Mention by Autodesk" winners.

From all over the world, excited spectators watched as Simone Völcker opened the golden envelope and announced the "3DPC 2021 Main Winner" "Hexr".

The 3D Pioneers Challenge 2021 found its final in a very successful, high-quality produced and entertaining digital award ceremony in the studio of Jangled Nerves, Stuttgart, following the motto "Best ideas happen in the kitchen".

”How meaningful the network in those challenging times is, you can see with our partners who stick together with us for many years as well as also our stunning jury members – the creative community of the 3D Pioneers Challenge lives the Paradigm shift by not stopping to push the boundaries together“, points out Christoph Völcker (3DPC).

Prizes and Awards
This year’s main prize winner “Hexr“ was awarded in the category FashionTech, with its customised bicycle helmet, which was realised using advanced technologies and brought to the market as a sustainable concept. Robin Spicer and his British team received the coveted 3DPC Trophy and an nTopology licence in addition to the prize money of 10,000 EUR.

The winner, Felicia Hamm from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, was awarded the "Best Student Award" in the design category. She won 4,000 EUR for "Self Adjusting Fire" and the Makerbot Sketch 3D printer.

Winners in the categories Digital, Architecture, MedTech, Mobility, Material, Sustainability and Technology & Process each received prize money of 3,500 EUR.

In addition, the project "The Brush" by Büro Süß & Friends won the second nTopology licence in the Digital category, with a value of over 15,000 EUR.

The three projects "Waam" from Italy, "The Brush" from Germany and "Protomycokion" from Denmark by Vanessa Sigurdson and Matthew Sprinelli (Autodesk Technology Centers) were awarded the "Special Mention by Autodesk".

The winners will have the opportunity to join the Autodesk Outsight Network – a global community of industry leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers who are developing cutting-edge technologies in design, AEC, manufacturing and more that will change our world.

The Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society once again provided the prize money totalling 35,000 EUR. Books from partners avedition and 3DHubs round off the package of prizes for all winners.

The 3D Pioneers Challenge is thus the most highly endowed and prestigious design competition of its kind in the world for advanced technologies, with a total prize value of over 70,000 EUR, in addition to the inestimable value of the international community and awareness, or the limited 3DPC Trophy from Ross Lovegrove, Hyperganic and Materialise.

3D Pioneers Challenge award ceremony is available to watch again on the #3D Pioneers Challenge YouTube Chanal: www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4Yt8M936R0hp_CjfIzlYQ

3D Pioneers Challenge 2022
Call for entries for 3DPC2022 will be anounced in November 2021.

Save te date: Rapid.Tech3D 2022, Messe Erfurt: 16 -18 May 2022