Exploring the Essence of A Multidimensional Ecosystem for 3D Printing industry -Evidence from Technology and Social Innovation

3D printing is the additive manufacturing which has unique features to transform a digital design file into a real physical product and is changing the world profoundly. The paper is to explore the essence of a multi-dimensional ecosystem by examining how the revolutionary 3D printing skills is reshaping the world from the perspectives of technology-oriented innovation and social innovation. We firstly identify and analyse then visible process of operation in 3D printing in the view of technology dimension (i.e. Dimension 1). The results from this analysis of Dimension 1 indicate that social innovation has played an essential role in the development of 3D printing technology which is always neglected. Also, enlightened by the Positive-Negative Framework, we then put forward a new framework after focusing on the investigation of the 4 sub-level dimensions, such as, Productivity, Biological Adjustment and Science Cognisance. Thus, we have contributed the linkage and the interaction recognition between technology innovation and social innovation based on the 3D technology development. Furthermore, the research shows a prospect of implication to explain the way how we could stimulate the network effect, promote and regulate the normal-growth technology when nurturing the development of the emerging 3D industry.