In a research facility outside Melbourne, Australia's national science agency has spent more than a decade quietly building a bridge between the theoretical promise of metal 3D printing and the practical realities of industrial manufacturing. Lab22, CSIRO's Innovation Centre established in 2015, offers Australian companies access to advanced additive manufacturing systems, collaborative expertise, and a space to de-risk the transition away from traditional production methods. The deeper ambition is not merely technological — it is a wager that a nation's manufacturing future can be secured thr