SINGAPORE, 22 October 2026 – The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), a national platform hosted by A*STAR, and ASTM International have deepened their strategic partnership through a new five-year agreement. The collaboration aims to accelerate the industrial adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) by strengthening the standards, qualification pathways and workforce capabilities needed to deploy new materials, processes and digital manufacturing technologies at scale.
The partnership addresses a critical barrier to wider industrial adoption: bridging the gap between demonstrating that an AM technology works and establishing the repeatability, quality assurance, qualification processes and internationally recognised standards required for industrial deployment.
Building on a collaboration that began in 2018, NAMIC and ASTM International will bring industry, research organisations and standards experts together to help AM technologies move from development and validation through to qualification and industrial adoption. The renewed partnership reflects the growing convergence of AM technologies with fast-moving fields such as advanced materials, modelling and simulation, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence, where a trusted digital data thread and international standards are key to scaling these technologies with confidence.
Advancing Standards and Qualification
Under the partnership, both organisations will work with industry and research partners across the digital manufacturing thread, from materials discovery and process modelling to AM production, digital testing and qualification, manufacturing data formats and provenance. Knowledge and data generated through collaborative projects can contribute to the development and adoption of relevant international standards, including through ASTM committees F42 on Additive Manufacturing and F50 on Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Systems, helping to connect technological innovation with industry requirements.
The collaboration is also expected to explore rapid qualification and materials data, including shared materials-data generation, materials-data equivalency and model-assisted approaches to qualification. These capabilities are intended to help manufacturers reduce the time and cost involved in qualifying new AM materials, processes and applications while maintaining the assurance required for industrial deployment.
Building Industry-Ready Talent
Talent development will form another key pillar of the partnership. NAMIC and ASTM International will co-develop and scale an integrated pipeline of industry-driven training, proficiency testing and certification programmes, eligible for recognition under the National Additive Manufacturing Jobs-Skills Accreditation Framework (NAAF). The programmes will build workforce capabilities at the convergence of AM and emerging digital technologies, equipping professionals with the skills and recognised competencies needed to implement AM-enabled digital manufacturing workflows and support wider industry adoption.
Connecting Regional Innovation with Global Standards
NAMIC will continue to serve as the Asia-Pacific coordinator for the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE), connecting industry, research organisations and public-sector stakeholders across the region with international standards expertise and wider industry networks to originate and advance collaborative initiatives.
“Through our continued partnership with ASTM International, NAMIC is well placed to connect regional industry and researchers with international expertise to advance rapid qualification of new AM materials and processes faster, built on a trusted digital data thread and international standards. Just as importantly, we will build the talent pipeline that Singapore and the region need, so that companies can adopt AM and digital manufacturing workflows at scale with confidence.” Dr Ho Chaw Sing, Executive Director, A*STAR Science and Engineering Research Council and Chief Executive Officer, NAMIC
“Our work with NAMIC has shown how applied research becomes standards that industry can trust. This renewal shortens that path: data from shared projects and expertise from across the region can now feed directly into ASTM committees, so qualification and workforce skills keep pace with the technology. Singapore is where much of this will be tested before it scales across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.” Dr Mohsen Seifi, Vice President, Critical and Emerging Technologies Division, ASTM International
By bringing standards development, technology translation and workforce capability building into a more integrated pathway, the renewed partnership will help manufacturers move from innovation to qualified industrial deployment with greater confidence. It will also strengthen connections between Singapore’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, Asia-Pacific industry partners and international standards networks, supporting the adoption of trusted and scalable AM-enabled digital manufacturing solutions.
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For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Ms Michelle Ng
Marketing & Communications
National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC)
michelle_ng[at]namic.sg
Mr Gavin O’Reilly
Communications Manager
ASTM International
goreilly[at]astm.org
About the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC)
The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) is Singapore’s national platform for accelerating the adoption of hybrid and digital additive manufacturing technologies. Hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF), NAMIC anchors Singapore as a global trusted node for resilient, sustainable, and smart manufacturing. Under the RIE2030 mandate, NAMIC drives transformative socioeconomic outcomes by fostering public-private partnerships and accelerating the commercial scale-up of industrial innovations. We envision the next generation of manufacturing as a seamless, data-driven ecosystem that integrates advanced materials, hybrid manufacturing, robotics, and artificial intelligence to create autonomous production workflows. To support this vision, we facilitate talent development and capability building in the field of additive manufacturing ensuring the workforce is equipped to lead and innovate. By bridging the gap between deep-tech R&D and industrial applications, NAMIC ensures Singapore remains a premier
global hub for advanced manufacturing excellence.
About ASTM International
Advancing standards and transforming markets, we touch every part of everyday life – helping our world work better.
Over 12,000 ASTM standards operate globally. Defined and set by us, they improve the lives of millions every day. Combined with our innovative business services, they enhance performance and help everyone have confidence in the things they buy and use.
About the Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) Division
ASTM International’s Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) Division accelerates standards development and delivers qualification and certification practices, training, and market intelligence across additive and advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems, exoskeleton technologies, and related critical and emerging technologies. The division’s Singapore office works with research institutes, industry, and standards bodies across the region to advance standards development and adoption.