UltiMaker announced a new STEM grants program for students.
The company, through its MakerBot heritage, has long supported the education market, and this has continued after the merger with Ultimaker. Today, the company’s transformation has been completed, and they address both education and professional 3D printing markets.
On the education side, they offer the Sketch series of desktop 3D printers, but more importantly, these devices are equipped with a very comprehensive educational ecosystem with which teachers can easily introduce students to making concepts.
The new grant program is called “MakerBot Gives Back”, and is intended to distribute a whopping US$500,000 to worthy applicants during 2025. UltiMaker explains:
“The $500,000 MakerBot Gives Back Initiative is part of UltiMaker’s broader effort to expand access to STEM education and learning opportunities for all students, particularly those in underserved communities, low-income schools, and students who have historically lacked access to advanced educational technology. The MakerBot Gives Back Initiative will offer 3D printers and materials, educator training and certification programs, and classroom resources to help educators integrate 3D printing into their curricula. Beyond in-kind donations, MakerBot will also provide support through a host of new programs, including new MakerBot grants, key partnerships, student scholarships, and more.”
It sounds like there will be a range of different grants, including “Education Grants” towards schools and districts that present a “strong vision” for student 3D printing. There will also be in-kind donations, presumably of equipment and materials, as well as partnerships on financial assistance through the “MakerBot Scholarship” program.
This may be a bit confusing due to the scope of all these programs. To make understanding clear, UltiMaker has published a “Grant Guide” that is constantly updated with the latest funding opportunities from the company.
MakerBot may not have as large a profile in the broader 3D printing market as it did years ago, but that’s because the brand is deeply focused on the education market. There they have firmly established themselves as a leader, and it’s now very common to see their equipment in local schools.
The new grant program will simply add to this, as it will certainly attract attention from educators and students. It won’t hurt their sales, either, because schools using grant equipment are more likely to buy more after their initial experience.
Via MakerBot
