Polymeric 3D printing technologies are increasingly used in diverse industrial fields, including automotive, biomedical, aerospace, packaging, electronics, precision mechanics and many others. The synthesis of new 3D printable materials, including (nano)composites, and smart or engineered materials, together with the development of faster and more precise 3D printing technologies, has widened the ranges of services and applications of these technologies well beyond more conventional uses such as rapid prototyping and hobbies.

The 3D printing of smart polymeric structures and the 4D printing, i.e., 3D printing of stimuli-responsive and shape-changing polymers, are novel research fields that promise to extend further the possibilities provided by these technologies.

In this thematic symposium, actual perspectives and trends of polymeric 3D printing will be discussed, focusing on applied and industrial research and the impact of these technologies on the market. An overview of developments on materials and manufacturing techniques as well as case studies of application will be provided.