Like other emerging technologies, 3D printing offers the prospects of new possibilities for progress and human uplift. As technology, 3D printing does not pose a threat in and of itself. It has the capability to yield great benefit for society. However, this capability can also be redirected for malign ends.
Many of the same characteristics that make it valuable to legitimate manufacturers—speed to delivery, on-demand production, more efficient inventory management, design innovation, and lower barriers to entry into new markets—can be used for nefarious purposes, including in ways that could have negative implications for international security. Given the further technological development of 3D printing and its real-world applications over the past few years, this event will discuss the likely next steps and how the United Nations can play a constructive role, including in the field of non-proliferation.
Co-hosted with The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.
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