Central University of Technology Free State

At the Central University of Technology (CUT), research is not conducted in isolation as it is purpose-driven, anchored in real-world challenges, and designed to deliver tangible impact at the community level. This is especially evident in the work of the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM), where more than 3,700 patients (as shown in Figure 1) have directly benefited from 3D-printed, patient-specific implants and prostheses. These are not just numbers as they represent lives changed, disabilities overcome, and access to care where none previously existed.