At the University of Pécs, the PTE 3D Project, a priority regional strategic directive, was established in the summer of 2014 on the initiative of the rector within the framework of a GINOP tender (GINOP-2. 3.2-15-2016-00022: ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PÉCS USING 3D PRINTING AND VISUALISATION TECHNOLOGIES).

Dr. József Bódis, the Rector of the University of Pécs at the time, formulated the need for a multidisciplinary research centre that would link the work of research groups from different faculties using 3D visualisation technologies. From the outset, 3D printing and visualisation technologies were identified along Research & Developent and Innovation lines with significant potential for priority services in the portfolio related to the "Entrepreneurial University" objectives. UP-3D is also closely linked to other inter-university and inter-faculty interdisciplinary projects and tenders, such as the UPMS’s Medi Skills Lab, UP’s E-Health projects, the Neurorehabilitation and Human-Machine Research Centre, and educational development cooperation with Zinemath Zrt. and Ottobock Hungaria Ltd.

In the initial phase, a UP-3D working group was set up under the auspices of the Szentágothai Research Centre, with researchers and students from the UP Medical School, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, the Faculty of Music and Visual Arts, and the Faculty of Sciences. From the very beginning, a number of renowned national experts have given lectures at our university in connection with the 3D Project. These professional collaborations led to the 1st International Interdisciplinary 3D Conference on 25-26 September, 2015, followed by three more, which were so successful that it has become one of the most important professional events in the region.

In the meantime, the initial learning phase of the UP-3D Project has been completed, and the research teams around the project have been set up to engage with industrial partners. As a result of the collaboration between the working groups, interdisciplinary research has been launched in a wide range of disciplines. Dr. Miklós Nyitrai, the current Dean of the Faculty of General Medicine of the University of Pécs, has been appointed by the Rector of the University of Pécs to manage the project and the future research centre. A successful application to the National Research Development and Innovation Office resulted in 1.8 billion HUF in financial support for the concept. In March 2018, the UP-3D project acquired a 600-square-metre centre, the UP-3D Visualisation and Printing Centre was finally opened on the premises of the UP Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, and the procurement of the technological equipment was launched in parallel.

The GINOP project is slowly coming to the end of its implementation period and will soon enter the maintenance phase.