Preface

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a technology that produces three-dimensional parts layer by layer from a material. AM has existed at various levels of sophistication for decades. However, it has only recently caught the widespread attention of industries and policymakers thanks to technological breakthroughs and advancements in the past decade that allow full-scale metallic components and structures to be made to high standards. AM is getting more attention and is considered a better choice of fabrication in almost every industry due to its unlimited design freedom, optimization, lightweight, and customization.

In the two sections of this book, readers will find new approaches for biomedical applications and advanced technological solutions. Medicine was and is a source of inspiration and a natural field for AM applications. Therefore, customized medical devices, bone tissue engineering for surgical operations, and/or biocompatible ceramics are promising trends.

The development of new hierarchical metamaterials and multi-materials manufactured by 3D printing will improve the use of these structures in biomedicine and industry and will allow new applications to be found. We suggest that applying the proposed manufacturing techniques in collaboration with topological design will significantly expand and deepen the areas of advanced manufacturing. All such trends will be obvious drivers for an accelerated transition of the world industry to a new technological era.

> **Igor V. Shishkovsky** Center for Design, Manufacturing and Materials, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russian Federation

Section 1
