One of the reasons why medical 3D printing is one of the fastest growing areas at this time is that doctors today are able to access advanced digital manufacturing tools with very low investments. Nevertheless, many institutions and governmental agencies have not yet fully understood the advantages that 3D printing can bring to surgical procedure preparation.
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The Universitiamo team’s funding goal of 40,000 euro – to be used for the development of a pilot service (with 3D printers, personnel, and materials) for the local community – has already been reached. The stretch goals of €70,000 and €120,000 would serve to fund and develop regional and national services. The campaign will end in July.
In Italy, like elsewhere in the world, more and more doctors are discovering that having access to advanced and extremely expensive CT scanners and MRI systems makes obtaining accurate 3D printed models extremely simple. The paradox is that most hospitals invest hundreds of thousands of euro/dollars in these imaging systems, but often see 3D printing as an unnecessary extra, even if the investment required is considerably lower.
Yet an increasing number of doctors are finding that 3D printed models truly offer a huge support in pre-surgical planning and are coming together around that belief. To help them effectively communicate with each other and exploit synergies in the field, a new organization, the 
