http://doi.org/10.35668/2520-6524-978-966-479-174-5
UDC 001.18; 002.513.5; 355/359 – 356.252.5
ISBN 978-966-479-174-5 (online)
Promising global scientific and technological research trends in the field of critical technology “Additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies” T. Kvasha and O. Kovalenko
Kvasha T. K. — Head of the Department of Technological Forecasting of Scientific and Technical Activities, State Scientific Institution “Ukrainian Institute of Scientific and Technical Expertise and Information”, 180, Antonovycha Str., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine; +38 (066) 234-22-77; tkvasha13@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-1371-3531; ReseacherID:
R-4526-2017
Kovalenko O. I. — PhD in Economics, Senior Research Fellow, State Scientific Institution “Ukrainian Institute of Scientific and Technical Expertise and Information”, 180, Antonovycha Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 03150; +38 (050) 961-32-30; olena.kovalenko2024ua@gmail.com; ORCID: 0009-0000-4427-1564; ResearcherID NXC-4360-2025
The scientific and analytical report by T. Kvasha and O. Kovalenko is devoted to the study of current global trends in additive manufacturing and 3D-printing technologies as one of the key directions of critical technologies in the fields of defense, security, and high-tech industry. The publication presents a comprehensive analysis of international scientific publications and patent activity, enabling the identification of global scientific and technological priorities, the maturity level of specific technological domains, and the broader transformation of additive manufacturing within the modern innovation-driven economy.
The study demonstrates that additive manufacturing is gradually moving beyond its predominantly experimental and laboratory-based stage toward broad industrial implementation. 3D-printing technologies are increasingly being integrated into manufacturing processes, defense applications, materials science, medicine, electronics, and other high-technology sectors. At the same time, the interdisciplinary nature of research is intensifying, while the importance of digital design, automation, quality control systems, and hybrid manufacturing solutions continues to grow.
The report highlights the emergence of a global ecosystem for the development of additive technologies, in which leading research centers, universities, public research institutions, international scientific foundations, and major industrial corporations play a central role. The analysis shows that the contemporary development of the field is taking place through close interaction between science, industry, and state support for innovation, while additive manufacturing technologies are increasingly viewed as strategic instruments for ensuring technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness.
Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of specific technological classes within additive manufacturing. The study identifies extrusion-based technologies and powder bed fusion as the most mature and technologically dominant areas, forming the foundation of the current AM production ecosystem. At the same time, directed energy deposition, photopolymerization, material jetting, and sheet lamination technologies are rapidly evolving, demonstrating expanding application areas and the gradual scaling of industrial use cases.
By integrating scientometric and patent analysis, the authors demonstrate that additive manufacturing is currently experiencing a phase of intensive innovation-driven growth accompanied by the emergence of clearly defined technological priorities. The analytical approach proposed in the report, combining publication analysis with patent dynamics, may serve as an effective tool for strategic monitoring of emerging technologies and for supporting decision-making in science and technology policy, defense planning, and the development of high-tech manufacturing.
Keywords: key technology and material classes for 3D printing, applications in the defense industry, cutting-edge material innovations, integration of AI and AM, scientometric and patent analyses.