Reaching into the White Powder: A Policy Brief on 3D Printing and Pacific Security
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Transcript of Reaching into the White Powder: A Policy Brief on 3D Printing and Pacific Security
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REACHING INTO THE WHITE POWDERA Policy Brief on 3D Printing and Pacific Security
Briar Thompson
Pacific Security Scholars
Policy Brief Series
Federation of American Scientists
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3D Printing is already used by many companies, including Apple, BMW, Boeing, Fisher-Price,
Ford, General Electric, Harley Davidson, Reebok and more (McNulty, Arnas, & Campbell,
2012) The technology is becoming more widely available, both in industry and for personal
use with desktop 3D printers, and the costs are coming down.
3D printing o$ers many advantages. It is an additive form of manufacturing, building up an
object from scratch, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing, removing material to leave
behind a finished product (often requiring moulds, many tools, and assembly with other
parts). Therefore, 3D printing is appealing as it takes fewer parts to make one product, is
more e"cient, wastes less materials, reduces manufacturing time, and may also save energy.
Given that a computer aided design (CAD) file is easy to edit, it is faster and cheaper to make
changes to a product when using additive manufacturing than when using subtractive
manufacturing. CAD files can be either a design or a 3D scan, and can even include medical
data (National Intelligence Council, 2012). Software is available at many price points, and
there are a number of free tools for designing 3D objects including Google Sketchup.
Furthermore, 3D printing allows for the creation of more complex objects without an increase
in cost (McNulty, Arnas, & Campbell, 2012). This makes 3D printing very good for
customization, rapid prototyping, short production runs (e.g., on demand replacement parts
for repairs), and reverse engineering or making parts that are no longer available.
Material quality and cost are two key limiting factors on the spread of this technology
(National Intelligence Council, 2012). Because of these limiting factors, it is unclear how soon
this technology could be used for mass production of objects.
Media coverage and discussions about 3D printing reveal a divide between technology
evangelists who see the enormous potential in this technology and alarmists who are
concerned about possible negative uses or impacts. Uncertainty around what might be
possible through 3D printing appears to be fueling some of the alarmism.
Potential security implications and related policy considerations
Although 3D printing is only one potential driver of changes, the number of changes it could
spark is substantial. This table presents some key security-relevant impacts 3D printing could
have.
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Examples of existing policies
! 3D Printers have been introduced to schools in some countries including the U.S.(National Intelligence Council, 2012), the UK (Department for Education, 2013; Paton,
2013), New Zealand (Park, 2012; Radio NZ, 2011) and Australia (Burrows, 2013).
! A U.S. report (McNulty, Arnas, & Campbell, 2012) recommended cooperation between
the law enforcement, legal and diplomatic communities in order to protect entrepreneurs
intellectual property, especially to protect U.S. inventions internationally.
! The U.S. has created a National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, now called
America Makes, to focus on increasing and accelerating U.S. domestic additive
manufacturing, supporting R&D in a number of ways (Advanced Manufacturing Portal,
2013). Part of this investment includes focusing on the potential for integrating 3D
printing into ongoing defense projects.
! A number of Pacific Rim countries (including Japan, China and Singapore) are also
investing in 3D printing research and development programs, often in partnership with
educational or research institutions.
! The New Zealand Defense Force is investigating the possible future outcomes of 3D
printing (Radio NZ, 2013).
Possible policy options
This section presents three broad policy approaches as alternatives to inaction. The three
approaches are monitoring and preparation, collaboration, or control.
Monitoring and preparation
This approach recognizes the need to take a big picture/long range view and carry out research
even if only secondary research to assess the impacts of 3D printing and prepare as
much as possible for those impacts.
Specific steps could include:
! Assigning a tech-savvy person to research ongoing 3D printing developments and
become the governments resident expert who can advise on policy. That person could
attend industry conferences and trade shows, join discussion groups on the internet, and
keep track of legal developments that may set precedents or highlight new concerns.
They should also follow industry reviews and reports that are available, including a
range of newsletters, 3D printing news websites, and reports such as the Wohlers
Associates State of the industry report (Wohlers Associates, 2013).
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!
Establishing an interdepartmental or even part-government part-industry task-force tomeet regularly and discuss the latest developments in 3D printing and their impacts on
security.
! Including 3D printing in relevant government departments media monitoring, or at least
regularly checking industry websites and reports, Wired and The Economist to keep
abreast of major developments.
! Scheduling regular interdepartmental future mapping and preparedness exercises to
draw out priorities for forward-looking policy.
! Improving government ability to respond flexibly and quickly to changes this may be
easier with an interdepartmental task-force with broad networks to draw on across the
government.
The major benefit of this approach is that it will allow governments in the Pacific to keep up to
date, if not keep pace with developments. If they are also flexible and able to respond quickly
to major changes, Pacific countries could gain from the benefits of 3D printing and minimize
downsides.
It is important to note that a restricted form of this approach may be the only option available to
some Pacific countries given their limited resources. However, information sharing may be
possible between some countries with close relationships, perhaps assigning a delegate to be
included in a task-force/working group run by another country e.g. some Pacific Island
countries with close relationships with New Zealand could request to have a delegate on a
New Zealand task-force or working group.
Collaboration
Building on monitoring and preparedness, taking a collaborative approach focuses on
increasing cooperation across sectors including the government, legal services, diplomaticservice, border control, law enforcement, business, research and development, academia ,
etc.
Specific steps could include:
! Ensuring investment in training up people with skills in computer aided design and
additive manufacturing techniques. Placing 3D printers in schools, as some countries
have already done, is a great start along that path.
! Funding R&D projects in universities and businesses where there is possible
commercial application or some other benefit to the country.
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PACIFIC ISLANDS SOCIETY INC.
P.O.Box 632 Ebensburg, PA 15931 Phone: 412.567.7147
[email protected] www.pacificislandssociety.com
! Assigning a tech-savvy person to research ongoing 3D printing
developments and become the governments resident expert who
can advise on policy. That person could attend industryconferences and trade shows, join discussion groups on the
internet, and keep track of legal developments that may set
precedents or highlight new concerns. They should also follow
industry reviews and reports that are available, including a range of
newsletters, 3D printing news websites, and reports such as the
Wohlers Associates State of the industry report (Wohlers
Associates, 2013).
! Establishing an interdepartmental or even part-government part-
industry task-force to meet regularly and discuss the latest
developments in 3D printing and their impacts on security.
! Including 3D printing in relevant government departments media
monitoring, or at least regularly checking industry websites and
reports, Wired and The Economist to keep abreast of major
developments.
! Scheduling regular interdepartmental future mapping and
preparedness exercises to draw out priorities for forward-looking
policy.
! Improving government ability to respond flexibly and quickly to
changes this may be easier with an interdepartmental task-force
with broad networks to draw on across the government.
! Establishing partnerships between government departments and academic institutions,perhaps in the form of new centers or institutes, to research specific applications in
which the government sees a need or potential gain.
! Encouraging information sharing between academia, business and government
departments on 3D printing developments.
! Facilitating regional cooperation and collaboration to share information and resources
relating to 3D printing developments.
Pacific governments have a unique opportunity to draw benefits from developments in 3D
printing if they act fast. As McNulty et al. (2012) points task-force out, By funding this
technology before it fully enters the consumer market and collaborating with those developing
the systems... government agencies will have an advantage in its future gains (p. 7).
Control
A control approach would focus heavily on regulation. This could include:
! Regulating IP owners to control CAD files in order to control printing e.g. somehow
programming files to only print at certain specifications, or on a specific printer with
certain materials. However, CAD files are easily changed. The field of digital rights
management has been largely unsuccessful as of yet. Furthermore, a 3D scanner
reduces the need for a CAD file so it would still be easy to bypass such regulation.
! Focusing on building up IP regulation, though this would likely stifle developments in
the industry without preventing the undesirable outcomes, ultimately doing more harm
than good.
! Controlling gunpowder, aiming to make it traceable, to address the weapons concern.
Aiming for government control would be detrimental to the development of 3D technology and
the possible benefits it can bring, even if such an approach may satisfy pressures from some
groups of businesses or citizens demanding action in the face of uncertainty.
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Recommendations
It is imperative that 3D printing is recognized as a quickly developing technology with
enormous possibilities, both for security benefits and for substantial changes that will present
security challenges to unprepared governments. Out of the three broad approaches outlined
above, governments of the Pacific should, to some extent, adopt the first approach of
monitoring developments and preparing for changes. This will help governments keep up to
date with 3D printing developments impacting on security and avoid being left behind.
Governments who are able to should also pursue the second approach of collaboration,
investing in research and development projects and training skilled workers. Regional
cooperation between Pacific Island governments would compliment cross-sector collaboration
within countries, better preparing governments to react to changes and security challenges that
are coming whether you like it or not and at a speed you dont see coming (Williamson,
2013).
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Bibliography
3D Printing [private LinkedIn group]. (2013). Retrieved October 2013, from LinkedIn: http://
www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=792077&trk=groups_guest_about-h-logo
Advanced Manufacturing Portal. (2013).America Makes: National Additive Manufacturing
Innovation Institute (NAMII). Retrieved November 15, 2013, from Advanced Manufacturing
Portal: http://www.manufacturing.gov/nnmi_pilot_institute.html
Applied DNA Sciences Inc. (2014). Electronics.Retrieved January 17, 2014, from Applied DNASciences: http://www.adnas.com/applications/electronics
Atala, A. (2011, March).Anthony Atala: Printing a human kidney [video file].Retrieved
November 15, 2013, from TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/
anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html
Brooke, R. (2013, March 11). 3D printing in the emerging markets: China.Retrieved November
15, 2013, from TCT Mag: http://www.tctmagazine.com/additive-manufacturing/3d-printing-in-
the-emerging-markets%3A-china/
Burrows, I. (2013, November 8). 3D printing aims to revolutionize Australian schools,
manufacturing.Retrieved November 15, 2013, from Australia Network News: 3D printing aims
to revolutionize Australian schools, manufacturing Department for Education. (2013, October).
3D printers in school: Uses in the curriculum.Retrieved November 15, 2013, from GOV.UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/
251439/3D_printers_in_schools.pdf
Hornick, J. (2013, October 23). Interview about 3D printing. (B. Thompson, Interviewer)
Markillie, P. (2012, April 21).A third industrial revolution.Retrieved November 15, 2013, from
The Economist: http://www.economist.com/node/21552901
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Bibliography
McNulty, C. M., Arnas, N., & Campbell, T. A. (2012). Toward the printed world: Additive
manufacturing and implications for national security. Defense Horizons(73), 1-16.
Morgan, J. (2013, October 15).Amaze project aims to take 3D printing 'into metal age'.
Retrieved November 15, 2013, from BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-
environment-24528306
National Intelligence Council. (2012). Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds.Washington,
DC: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Intelligence Council.
Park, R. (2012, December 21). New Zealand Incorporates 3D Printing into Curriculum.
Retrieved November 15, 2013, from 3D Printing Industry: http://3dprintingindustry.com/
2012/12/21/new-zealand-incorporates-3d-printing-into-curriculum/
Paton, G. (2013, October 18). 3D printers to be introduced into the classroom. Retrieved
November 15, 2013, from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/
educationnews/10389489/3D-printers-to-be-introduced-into-the-classroom.html
Radio NZ. (2013, May 19). Defense to investigate 3D printing of guns. Retrieved November
15, 2013, from Radio NZ: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/135502/defence-to-
investigate-3d-printing-of-guns
Radio NZ. (2011, March 3). Nine to Noon Thursday 3 March 2011, with Kathryn Ryan.Retrieved November 15, 2013, from Radio NZ: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/
ninetonoon/audio/2468861/new-technology-nat-torkington
The Economist. (2012, April 21). Special report: A third industrial revolution. The Economist.
UNDP. (1994). Human Development Report 1994.New York and Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
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Bibliography
Weinberg, M. (2010, November). It will be awesome if they don't screw it up: 3D printing,
intellectual property, and the fight over the next great disruptive technology. Retrieved November
15, 2013, from Public Knowledge: http://www.publicknowledge.org/files/docs/
3DPrintingPaperPublicKnowledge.pdf
Williamson, M. (2013, October 30). Interview about 3D printing. (B. Thompson, Interviewer)
Wohlers Associates. (2013). Wohlers Report 2013.Retrieved November 15, 2013, from Wohlers
Associates: http://wohlersassociates.com/2013report.htm
This policy brief was also informed by informal discussions with industry professionals and
academics who did not wish to be referenced.
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About the Author
Briar Thompson is a Rhodes
Scholar from New Zealand
pursuing graduate study at
Somerville College, University of
Oxford. She has completed an
MSc in Refugee and Forced
Migration Studies, in which her
thesis focused on how the
protection needs of those
vulnerable to displacement linked
to environmental stress might be
provided, with particular reference
to Pacific small island states.
Starting this fall, Briar will bereading for the Master of Public
Policy at Oxfords Blavatnik
School of Government, where she
intends to continue relating her
studies to the Pacific region.
About the 2013/14 Pacific Security Scholars Program:
The 2013/14 Pacific Security Scholars Program is an extension of the ESTPC Security
Scholars program. Designed specifically for scholars from the Pacific Islands region, this
program is being run in partnership with the Pacific Islands Society and the Center for
Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific Studies. Keiko Ono, Director of Development at
PacSoc,can be reached at the following address for any further enquiries into the
program: [email protected] .
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About the Pacific Islands Society Inc (PacSoc).
The Pacific Islands Society is an independent, non-partisan, non-governmental
organization dedicated to promoting stronger people-people relations between the
Pacific Island Countries and beyond. www.pacificislandssociety.com
About the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre
The Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre was established to promote
international peace by strengthening the impact and credibility of scientists and
technologists in national security policy debates involving emerging science and
technologies. www.estpc.org
About the Pacific Islands Society at SOAS
The Pacific Islands Society at SOAS is a registered society of the SOAS Student Union
that aims to increase student and faculty awareness of the importance of Pacific
a$airs within the SOAS community and the broader UK higher-level education system.
About the Center for Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific Studies:
The Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies is part of the School of
Foreign Service at Georgetown University. The Center was established in August 1995
with funding from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand and offers a wide
program of courses, conferences and meetings taught by outstanding academics eachsemester. http://canzps.georgetown.edu
About the Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists, an independent, nonpartisan think tank
dedicated to providing rigorous, objective, evidence-based analysis and practical policy
recommendations on national and international security issues connected to applied
science and technology. www.fas.org
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This publication may be reproduced in its entirety for educational and non-commercial use, and
excerpts may be reproduced provided the title and publisher are credited.
All rights reserved.
Proposed citation:
Briar Thompson, Pacific Security Scholars (2014) Reaching into the White Powder: A Policy Brief
on 3D printing and Pacific Security Pacific Islands Society Inc.
PACIFIC ISLANDS SOCIETY INC.
P.O.Box 632 Ebensburg, PA 15931 Phone: 412.567.7147
[email protected] www.pacificislandssociety.com