No new funding planned for AM and lightweight construction

Formnext and experts in the field of additive manufacturing (AM) in Germany are calling for a rethink of government funding for AM. No new funding for AM and lightweight construction is planned in the federal government's current draft budget. Sascha Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt, emphasizes the importance of a political signal: "We are missing a clear commitment to this future technology, especially after this was already promised in the coalition agreement." Formnext is regarded as the world's leading trade fair for additive manufacturing and industrial production technologies.

Other AM experts in Germany are also expressing their disappointment. Just a few weeks ago, the German government announced that it would provide more support for future technologies such as 3D printing. The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD explicitly mentions the promotion of lightweight construction, additive manufacturing and 3D printing: Under the title "Responsibility for Germany", it states: "We will promote lightweight construction technology, additive manufacturing and 3D printing." This goal was also confirmed in June 2025 by the Conference of Economics Ministers of the Federal States: "The Conference of Economics Ministers welcomes the fact that the promotion of lightweight construction technologies, additive manufacturing and 3D printing continues to be one of the political objectives at federal level - an important signal that should now be backed up with concrete measures," the Formnext statement quotes the results protocol.

However, none of this can be found in the current draft budget of June 26, 2025. Only funds to finance existing obligations and to complete ongoing programs are planned for the area of lightweight construction. No new funding initiatives are planned.

Impact on the AM industry and other sectors

If this draft is implemented, Sascha Wenzler believes that "the leading global position of the German AM industry is at risk in the long term. This would certainly also have an impact on the innovative capacity of numerous German industrial sectors." This is because additive manufacturing is a young and at the same time extremely innovative technology.

Additively manufactured parts and components are already making new, more efficient and often more sustainable products and solutions possible in numerous industries. This includes the automotive industry, medicine, the energy industry and security-related sectors such as aerospace and defense.

"Countries such as the USA, China and many others have recognized this great importance for innovation and implemented corresponding funding programmes," adds Christoph Stüker, also Vice President Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt. "The German AM industry plays in the leading league worldwide. The innovations that German companies and research institutes regularly develop successfully range from new AM systems and materials to solutions for post-processing." This can also be seen every year at Formnext, an international industry event that brings the global AM scene to Frankfurt. "We also need government support for this sector, which is so important for the entire industry, so that the solutions of German AM companies can continue to enable innovation in large parts of the industry in the future," says Stüker.

"Update strategy urgently"

AM experts are also critical of the current development. "With the new coalition agreement, we had hoped that additive manufacturing would receive systematic support both in the short and medium term in order to remain at the forefront of global competition," says Prof. Christian Seidel from the Munich University of Applied Sciences and Wohlers Associates. For Seidel, the consequences for the AM landscape in Germany are not foreseeable "While other countries are promoting progress in additive manufacturing with large sums of money, Germany now urgently needs to update its own strategy and implement it jointly between politics and industry. 'Business as usual' can lead to mediocrity."

Markus Heering, Managing Director of the Additive Manufacturing Working Group in the VDMA, expresses similar concerns: "We take a critical view of the current economic policy developments in Germany regarding new production technologies, especially additive manufacturing. Innovations from industry and research, including high-performance AM solutions, are extremely important for the domestic mechanical and plant engineering sector. This is key to developing technological leadership and maintaining Germany's technological sovereignty as a business location. To this end, we are calling for a strong commitment from politicians."