Resilient Health Care: Discussion with MAGS and the District Government at the 3D Center

Münster – On Monday, October 19, 2026, State Secretary Matthias Heidmeier from the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MAGS) and a delegation from the Münster District Government visited the UKM’s 3D Center. The visit took place as part of the regional conference on the framework plan “Crisis-Resilient Health Care in North Rhine-Westphalia.” The focus was on how medical 3D printing and innovative manufacturing processes can help ensure reliable healthcare even in crisis situations.

On behalf of the UKM, the technical exchange was led by the director of the 3D Center, PD Dr. Dr. Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Martin Schulze from the Department of General Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Prof. Dr. Klemens Horst, Director of the Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Prof. Dr. Tobias Hirsch, Director of the Department of Plastic Surgery, and Dr. Christoph Klaas, Head of the Pharmacy Division. Together, they presented current applications and future prospects for medical 3D printing. The focus was on patient-specific implants, applications in trauma and plastic surgery, and the future of pharmaceutical 3D printing.

We would like to thank State Secretary Matthias Heidmeier, the representatives of the Münster District Government, and all the guests in attendance for their keen interest and the open, constructive dialogue.

The continued development of the 3D Center and its interdisciplinary and cross-border collaboration with clinical, scientific, and industrial partners are made possible by funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union. This support creates the essential conditions for translating innovative technologies into robust structures and safe solutions for patient care.