How India Is Building Its Next-Generation Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem

The National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM), launched in 2022, aims to develop a stronger domestic AM ecosystem. The initiative has trained more than 1.54 lakh people so far and supported 56 startups in the sector.

The strategy is now entering its NSAM 2.0 phase, with plans to expand the market and strengthen the role of additive manufacturing in the country's efforts towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, the factsheet said.

Additive manufacturing is increasingly being used to transform digital designs into physical products and is emerging as an important area of engineering and industrial innovation. The global market for AM machines is projected to reach $149 billion by 2035, while the AM-electronics supply chain is expected to expand from $18 billion to $112 billion.

The government sees this growth as an opportunity for India to build greater manufacturing capabilities in additive manufacturing platforms using polymers, metals, composites, ceramics and semiconductor-grade materials.

The second edition of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave, ESTIC-2026, will be held from October 27 to 29. Organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the event will focus on emerging scientific and technological areas, including additive manufacturing, and explore their potential for transformative applications.

The three-day conclave is expected to promote strategic collaborations and contribute to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. It will cover 12 thematic areas through plenary sessions, technical discussions and exhibitions.

India's space sector is also using additive manufacturing to develop lighter and more advanced hardware. In May 2024, IIT Madras-incubated startup Agnikul Cosmos launched Agnibaan SOrTeD, featuring a single-piece, additively manufactured semi-cryogenic rocket engine.

The mission demonstrated the potential of 3D printing to support complex engine designs and speed up indigenous development of space hardware. The government said NSAM is supporting startups in research and development involving critical engine components manufactured using additive techniques.

The armed forces are also adopting the technology for applications requiring faster and more resilient construction. The Indian Army inaugurated its first 3D-printed two-storey dwelling unit in Ahmedabad, which was constructed in 12 weeks. The technology has subsequently been extended to precast defence structures in operational areas such as Ladakh.

NSAM is also supporting the Army, Navy and Air Force in establishing workshop-level additive manufacturing facilities for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) applications.

In healthcare, the Technology Development Board is supporting the development of 3D-printed bone grafts using indigenous bioceramic materials. Such technology can enable grafts to be tailored to individual patients' anatomy and requirements while reducing dependence on imports and strengthening domestic medical manufacturing.