The Direct Manufacturing Research Centre (DMRC) - Academic, a transfer institute based at Paderborn University, is conducting research into establishing the additive process chain as a robust industrial production process. Here, technology-leading industrial companies are working hand in hand with researchers at the university to industrialise additive manufacturing. The entire additive value chain, from raw material extraction to production and application, is covered by both large and small and medium-sized companies. The structure of the DMRC is very flexible and interdisciplinary; depending on the current research topics, the constellation of chairs involved in the DMRC can be changed.

Currently, 11 different chairs and a large number of research assistants work together in the DMRC.
Depending on the research question and time horizon, the DMRC's industrial partners or public funding organisations finance research projects, which are then carried out at Paderborn University. The jointly funded projects in the DMRC consortium are managed and controlled by the industrial partners. In this way, all partners can achieve the greatest possible benefit with regard to the industrialisation of DMRC research results.