GE Additive Education Program accepting applications

CINCINNATI - Feb. 2, 2018 - PRLog -- Polar3D is pleased to announce that GE Additive is now accepting applications from schools and colleges for the 2018 cycle of its Additive Education Program (AEP). Register and complete the online application here. The deadline is February 28, 2018.

GE is investing $10 million over five years in educational programs to deliver Polar Cloud-enabled polymer 3D printers to primary and secondary schools and metal 3D printers to colleges and universities around the world.

The 2017 inaugural year of the Program was a great success. Eight colleges and universities received direct metal laser melting (DMLM) machines. More than 400 K-12 schools each received two Polar Cloud-enabled 3D printers and STEM curriculum, incorporating design with additive manufacturing and professional development.

"It is estimated that 180,000 students worldwide now have access to 3D printers as a result of the Education Program," says Jason Oliver, VP & CEO of GE Additive. "We are excited to continue the program in 2018 and give students across all grades exposure to additive manufacturing. This will help promote interest in STEM and create a pipeline of qualified engineers and technicians to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing."

"GE's AEP is already having a huge impact on student outcomes," adds Greg LaLonde, CEO of Polar3D, which partners with GE Additive on the Program. "Eighty percent of the primary and secondary students in this inaugural class had never 3D printed before, and two-thirds had never used CAD. Now those same students are designing, programming and bringing their own digital models to life as printed objects. It's magical and fuels student interest in STEM."

This year, the Program includes a new subsidy program that allows any organization or individual to apply for a subsidy to purchase Polar Cloud-enabled 3D printers and curricula on behalf of educational institutions. The Program also welcomes new supporters and sponsors including Autodesk, BlocksCAD, Dremel, Flashforge, Makers Empire, SME, Ultimaker and invites other corporations to join the cause.

"Dremel is honored to be included as a supplier and sponsor in the program," stated John Kavanagh, President of Dremel. "Bosch, like GE, has a long tradition of supporting education and is pleased to support the AEP and the access it provides students to the tools for making."

To apply to the AEP, please register and complete the online application here. For more information, visit www.ge.com/additive. Sponsorship inquiries and other questions may be directed to geaep@polar3d.com.


About Polar3D

Polar3D is a technology company delivering software, products and content to educate and enable a world for "making" through the Polar Cloud. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, USA the Company's Polar Cloud makes 3D printing universally accessible by giving anyone with a browser the ability to create and transform digital models into physical objects. It's about educating and enabling a future for digital manufacturing by building the Polar Cloud into the largest 3D printing & making ecosystem in the world. To that end, the Company and its partners are committed to publishing content on the Polar Cloud to enrich the member experience, including curriculum to drive the advance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.