Since the publication of Marks & Clerk’s 2020 whitepaper ‘3D/IP: Intellectual Property in an Age of 3D Printing’, the additive manufacturing (AM) landscape has undergone transformative change. With adoption surpassing expectations and regulations beginning to catch up, 3D printing has moved from a specialist tool to a global production force, reshaping industries, supply chains and intellectual property (IP) frameworks along the way
MARKET GROWTH
When Marks & Clerk released its original analysis in 2020, the 3D printing market was projected to reach $3.1 billion. However, the sector hit close to $12 billion that year alone according to the Protolabs 2024 Trend Report, and the industry is now on track to reach a significant $57.1 billion by 2028 – well head of previous forecasts for 2050.
According to Marks & Clerk’s updated whitepaper, this explosive growth has been driven by broader industrial acceptance, significant material advancements and declining costs of hardware. Notably, sectors not traditionally associated with advanced manufacturing – like agriculture – are now among the highest adopters of 3D printing. In fact, 87% of agricultural businesses reported increased 3D printing usage in the past year, compared to a 70% average across sectors.
EVOLVING APPLICATIONS
AM has evolved from a prototyping tool to an enabler of functional, end-use production across critical sectors. Early adoption in automotive, aerospace, and medical industries has continued at pace. The European Patent Office (EPO) 2023 report confirms that health, transportation, and energy sectors dominate international patent filings. Applications range from custom implants and prosthetics to precision aerospace parts and energy-efficient turbines.
Additionally, new frontiers have emerged. 3D printing is increasingly used in construction (including experimental lunar habitats), fashion, and even food production. Sustainability has become a driver of innovation, with companies exploring recycled feedstocks, including ocean plastics, for consumer goods.
Perhaps the most disruptive trend is the decentralisation of manufacturing. 3D printing enables production at the point of care (e.g. hospitals and pharmacies), on-demand part replacement (e.g. military and motorsport), and even fabrication in outer space. The European Space Agency and Airbus have tested a metal 3D printer aboard the International Space Station, successfully printing components in microgravity.
THE MATERIALS RACE: METALS VS POLYMERS
Materials innovation continues to underpin much of 3D printing’s growth. In 2020, polymers dominated, and while metal 3D printing hasn’t overtaken them yet, the metal AM market is now growing at nearly 30% annually, compared to 13% for polymers. This reflects increasing demand for high-performance materials tailored to specialised industrial applications.
Additionally, blended materials and composites are being developed to meet stringent production needs, enabling more complex parts with better performance characteristics. These advances are expected to trigger further sector disruption and fuel patent filings in the years ahead.
A SHIFT IN MANUFACTURING GEOGRAPHY
As the cost of 3D printers decreases and their capabilities improve, production locations are changing, the report suggests. From localised print farms to in-house hospital fabrication, AM is becoming a core component of decentralised, just-in-time production models.
In healthcare, for instance, custom orthoses, prosthetics, and even personalised pills, are being printed directly in pharmacies or hospitals. In the automotive sector, companies like Babcock International are using 3D printing to rapidly produce replacement parts for military vehicles, often within days. Formula One teams now rely on in-house 3D printing for fast, lightweight prototypes and components.
EVOLVING LEGAL AND IP FRAMEWORKS
The decentralised and digital nature of 3D printing creates major challenges for IP enforcement. A key concern highlighted in Marks & Clerk’s 2020 report was the proliferation of digital twins – 3D files that can be shared online and used to replicate protected designs without authorisation. Since then, the IP framework has begun to evolve. In 2022, the EPO clarified that software files used to operate AM devices – such as G-code – can be patent-protected, offering creators some resource against digital infringement. However, simpler 3D printing geometry files are still more difficult to protect under traditional IP law.
Major strides have been made in design law, however. As of May 2025, the European Union (EU) updated its registered design legislation to explicitly include digital and non-physical products. The new definition of a ‘product’ includes items materialised in digital form, enabling IP holders to take action against unauthorised sharing of 3D print files. This legislative change represents a critical advancement, particularly for designers concerned about file sharing in the 3D space.
REGIONAL TRENDS
According to the report, innovation in 3D printing is occurring across the globe, with China showing rapid growth in patent filings – from 2,000 in 2019 to over 5,500 by 2023. Chinese IP focuses heavily on new materials, multi-material systems and domain-specific applications such as aerospace and medical devices. Hong Kong, though smaller in scale, is becoming a hub for commercialisation and R&D collaboration.
Canada, meanwhile, is experiencing steady growth in 3D printing innovation, particularly in aerospace, automotive and medtech. Government support is strong: Federal initiatives like Ngen and IP-focused programmes such as Elevate IP and IP Ontario are providing funding for both R&D and IP strategy development. Canadian firms are contributing to cutting-edge technologies such as adaptive manufacturing – a blend of 3D printing and precision machining.
As 3D printing technology becomes further embedded in global manufacturing ecosystems, the importance of clear, adaptive IP frameworks is rising. For innovators, designers and manufacturers alike, staying ahead means embracing new materials and methods, as well as securing the digital rights that will ensure competitive advantages.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Explosive Market Growth: From $12B in 2020 to a projected $57.1B by 2028.
- Wider Adoption: Beyond aerospace and healthcare, 3DP is growing in agriculture, fashion, food, and construction.
- Advanced Applications: Space-based printing, personalised medicine, and defence readiness illustrate the power of AM.
- Legal Progress: The EU now recognises digital product forms under design law; the EPO allows patent protection of AM software.
- Global Innovation: China leads in patent volume and materials innovation; Canada shows steady sectoral growth with strong government support.
