3D Printed Micro-Optics to the Market

Introduction

In the project 3DPrintoptixMarket, we are going to take 3D printed micro-optics to the market. The technology had been developed in the framework of PoC grant 3DPRINTEDOPTICS by the group of Harald Giessen, who had published key papers on this technology and who founded the company Printoptix GmbH as an outcome.

Project Goals

We are going to build complex 3D printed multiplet micro-lenses for augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (AR/VR/MR) applications. This market is growing at more than a 40% annual rate, projected to reach a market size of over 300 billion USD by the year 2028.

Collaboration

For this purpose, we are teaming up with Printoptix and one of the leading eye tracking companies, Viewpointsystem GmbH from Vienna. Together, we will develop a first industrially viable demonstrator that integrates 3D printed micro-optics into their AR/VR goggles to read out the eye pupil position upon infrared illumination.

Target Customers

We are going to take this technology demonstrator to early customers who use such systems for:

• Remote repair
• Remote advice
• Customer training and monitoring

Upon success, our technology will be introduced to larger customers that address the giant AR/VR/MR market, which includes:

1. Teleconferencing
2. Remote medicine
3. Servicing and training
4. Gaming

Business Model Exploration

Simultaneously, we are going to explore viable business models for 3D printed micro-optics and address key business numbers such as:

• Manufacturing cost per part
• Overhead
• Investments

One key part of our proposal is to lower the cost per part to reach numbers below existing technologies. Furthermore, we are going to prepare a business plan to get 3D printed micro-optics investor-ready.

Conclusion

This will assure that our world-leading, disruptive 3D printed micro-optics technology provides unique high-tech solutions for global markets, which are currently not addressed by Asian or American companies. This will therefore be a hallmark example of “Made in Europe” high technology.