MATERIALISE NV

Their core work

Materialise is a Belgian industrial 3D printing and medical software company that develops software platforms for additive manufacturing, patient-specific medical planning, and industrial X-ray computed tomography. In H2020 projects, they contribute software engineering expertise for CT-based dimensional metrology, patient-specific anatomical modeling for cardiac interventions, and simulation tools for bone regeneration. Their core business value lies at the intersection of advanced imaging, computational modeling, and manufacturing — turning scan data into actionable digital models for both medical and industrial applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Materialise's early H2020 work (2015-2018) centered on medical applications — patient-specific imaging, tissue modeling for cardiac procedures, and bone regeneration simulations. From 2017 onward, a clear pivot emerges toward industrial metrology: X-ray computed tomography, dimensional measurement, and Industry 4.0 integration. Their most recent project (xCTing, 2021) fully commits to industrial CT as a manufacturing quality tool, suggesting the medical-to-industrial transition is now their strategic direction in EU research.

Materialise is moving from medical imaging software toward industrial X-ray CT and metrology for smart manufacturing, making them increasingly relevant for Industry 4.0 quality control consortia.

How they like to work

Materialise operates primarily as a specialist partner (5 of 6 projects as participant), contributing software and imaging expertise to consortia rather than leading them. Their one coordination role (FlexCT) was a focused Marie Curie fellowship, not a large-scale consortium. With 49 unique partners across 12 countries, they maintain a broad but non-repetitive network — suggesting they are sought after for specific technical contributions rather than building long-term consortium blocs.

Materialise has collaborated with 49 distinct partners across 12 countries, indicating a wide European reach. Their network spans both medical research groups and industrial metrology institutes, reflecting their dual expertise.

What sets them apart

Materialise occupies a rare position as a large private company that bridges medical imaging software and industrial CT metrology — two domains that rarely overlap in consortium expertise. Their commercial software products (used globally in hospitals and factories) mean they bring production-ready tools rather than academic prototypes. For consortium builders, this translates to a partner who can take research outputs and integrate them into commercially deployed platforms.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FlexCT
  Their only coordinated project — developed an open-source X-ray CT reconstruction tool bridging additive manufacturing and dimensional metrology.
• CuraBone
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 751,680), focused on patient-specific bone regeneration modeling — their most heavily funded medical application.
• xCTing
  Most recent project (2021-2025) training next-generation CT experts for Industry 4.0, marking their strategic direction toward industrial applications.