The National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) under NSTDA secured three prestigious awards at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, held from April 17-21, 2024, under the support of the National Research Council of Thailand, Harn Engineering Solutions Pcl., and the Thai Biomedical Engineering Association. This year's event showcased over 1,000 innovations from 40 countries, with Thailand contributing a strong showing of 94 innovations from 37 organizations.
MTEC's award-winning invention, "Customizable 3D-Printed Soft Materials for Advanced Medical Uses," offers novel printable materials for LCD-based 3D printing technology, a cost-effective alternative to DLP or SLA methods. While traditional UV-curable resins for LCD printers often lack biocompatibility and flexibility, limiting the ability to manufacture soft 3D-printed parts, MTEC’s printable flexible materials create new opportunities for medical applications. By leveraging our extensive experience, we have developed novel UV-curable materials with diverse mechanical properties, specifically designed for both LCD and DLP 3D printing. These materials hold immense potential for medical applications due to their biocompatibility and ability to imitate soft structures. MTEC is actively working to commercialize this technology, making it accessible to patients worldwide.
This remarkable success belongs to the Functional Materials for Novel Engineering Applications Research Team, part of MTEC's Engineering Design and Computation Research Group. Led by Dr. Raviphat Maneechote, the team – Dr. Sasitorn Srisawadi, Dr. Boriphat Methachan, Mr. Prasit Wattanawongsakun, and Ms. Siwaporn Srimongkol – garnered a Silver Medal, the FIRI Award for Best Invention, and an NRCT Honorable Mention Award from Thailand's National Research Council. Their dedication and expertise not only brought honor to Thailand but also paved the way for advancements in medical treatments that could benefit millions worldwide.
